Dayana Yastremska‘s provisional doping ban could still be lifted before the Australian Open, as the Court of Arbitration for Sport is speeding up the procedure to make the final decision by February 3.
A few days ago, the ITF announced that Yastremska’s request to lift the provisional suspension had been denied by the Chair of the Independent Tribunal, so we concluded that the Ukranian’s chances of playing the Australian Open vanished. However, there is still some hope for the world No.29. The Court of Arbitration for Sport has had her appeal against the doping ban fast-tracked, so that her case would be resolved before the Grand Slam which starts on February 8.
The 20-year-old Yastremska tested positive for mesterolone metabolite in an out-of-competition doping test in late November. She insists that she has never used any performance-enhancing drugs and that it must have been the result of a “contamination event”. Despite being in the midst of a doping scandal, Yastremska traveled to Melbourne, hoping that her name would be cleared in time for the Australian Open. (source: BBC, photo: Jimmie48)