Indian tennis player Parikshit Somani has received a four-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance known as trimetazidine. This occurred during an ATP Challenger tournament in Astana, Kazakhstan, last summer.
The 26-year-old athlete, who had previously achieved a career-high doubles ranking of No. 256, provided a urine sample on July 31, 2025. The results showed the presence of trimetazidine, a substance that is on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that an independent tribunal has upheld the ban, which temporarily removes Somani from competitive tennis. His provisional suspension began on September 23, 2025, and the full ban will last until September 2029. Additionally, all his results from the Astana event and any achievements up to his provisional suspension date have been annulled, leading to the loss of ranking points and prize money.
In an attempt to defend himself, Somani claimed that the substance entered his body through food prepared by a family member. While under provisional suspension, he sought help from the ITIA’s player support program to explore potential sources of contamination. However, the products he mentioned were tested at a WADA-accredited laboratory in Salt Lake City, USA, and found to be free of trimetazidine.
In February 2026, Somani presented this food contamination argument during a hearing on August 19. The tribunal considered expert opinions from both Somani and the ITIA but ultimately disagreed with his explanation. They described his contamination theory as “scientifically implausible” and “speculative.” The tribunal also ruled that he could not prove the origin of the banned substance, leading to the enforcement of the four-year suspension as per the anti-doping regulations in tennis.
The case highlights the strict measures in place to ensure fair play in the sport.
