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A banned former Australian tennis player and coach declared “I’ve done it – I’ve cheated with it” when discussing the pros and cons of taking clenbuterol, a substance prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as an “anabolic agent” and strictly off limits in sport.
Marinko Matosevic also described his feeling of practising at “full power” and feeling as though he “wasn’t kinda trying” at the time he received a blood transfusion in Mexico while competing in 2018.
Matosevic copped a four-year ban after an investigation by the sport’s anti-doping watchdog for the use of a prohibited method. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced its judgment on Matosevic last week and has since released detailed findings about the one-time Australian No.1.
The ITIA found former the world No.39 had also facilitated another player to blood dope and provided advice to other players on how to avoid positive tests.
Matosevic was also found to have possessed and used clenbuterol.
He cannot coach or work with any player in any context during his four-year ban, may not compete, and is prohibited from attending any tennis event or activity of a member of the ITIA, such as ATP, WTA or Tennis Australia events, including the Australian Open.
Matosevic outed himself in February as under investigation by the ITIA. He said he “stupidly and recklessly” had a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico, in early 2018. The then 32-year-old played qualifying at Indian Wells one week later, the final tournament of his career.
The ITIA findings outline the communication between Matosevic and other players, whose identities are not disclosed.
“In early 2018, Mr Matosevic travelled to Mexico to compete in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Cuernavaca, Morelos. During this time, he was in regular communication with Player B. Their text messages from February 2018 provided insight into the activities the two engaged in while in Morelos,” the findings state.
“These included attending a clinic, blood doping, making payments to a doctor, whom a friend of Player B had put them in touch with ... and the performance-enhancing effects they experienced.
“Over the following days, Mr Matosevic described experiencing a noticeable upshift in his physical condition, stating that he had ‘practiced [at] full power’ and that training felt unusually easy. These messages occurred during the same period in which both players were present in Morelos, and during which Mr Matosevic competed in the event.”
The doping watchdog also published messages between him and a player eight years ago when the Australian referred to Player B as “Lance”. “We interpret this as referring to Lance Armstrong,” the ITIA said.
Matosevic has been involved in coaching current Australian players Chris O’Connell and Jordan Thompson, a US Open doubles champion and accomplished singles player who reached the Wimbledon fourth round last year. This masthead is not suggesting any wrongdoing involving O’Connell or Thompson.
The doping watchdog also published correspondence between Matosevic and an unknown player about the best timing to provide a blood sample before the 2020 Australian Open, as well as correspondence from two years ago in which Matosevic was quizzed by an unknown person about taking clenbuterol. In reply, Matosevic explains how he had an elevated heart rate and says, “I’ve done it. I’ve cheated with it”.
“On 12 January 2020, Player A exchanged messages to with Mr Matosevic concerning the timing of a blood test, which he was required to submit after receiving a notification from the ITF [the International Tennis Federation], on 2 January 2020, in relation to the forthcoming Australian Open,” the findings state.
“Player A informed Mr Matosevic that he was required to provide a blood sample between 12 and 19 January 2020 (immediately before the start of the Australian Open) and indicated that testing might occur on 14 January 2020, “maybe before that”.
“In the same exchange, Player A confirmed that he had last used ‘clen’ on 14 December 2019. Mr Matosevic responded that ‘clen is gone under 10 days’ and reassured him to ‘[s]leep easy’. Following this reassurance, Player A proceeded to arrange his blood test for 19 January 2020, the final day within the testing window.
“Furthermore, Mr Matosevic communicated with [redacted] about clenbuterol. In April 2024, [redacted] asked him about Ozempic and whether there was anything that would help burn fat while training. In response, Mr Matosevic told [redacted] that ‘the best thing is Clenbuterol’, explaining that it is what athletes take and that it is banned. He said clenbuterol was ‘very clean’ and it could be obtained ‘over the counter in Indonesia’.
“He explained that it could be administered orally by ‘squirting it into your month’ and suggested that a gym contact might be able to obtain it. He then proceeded to state,‘I’ve done it. I’ve cheated with it’ and described its effects as causing an elevated heart rate and increased sweating.”
Matosevic admitted to his Mexico blood transfusion in an interview with tennis website The First Serve.
“Under desperate circumstances (I had some health issues in 2017), I stupidly and recklessly did a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico,” said Matosevic, whose career highlights included second-round appearances at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and Roland Garros.
“I was disgusted with myself, I retired the following week at the age of 32 and a half. Shortly after I realised how precious life is and how serious and reckless my decision was.”
But he also hit out at the ITIA’s investigation process and called for the current systems to be “dismantled”.
“They take your phone under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally over five years old,” he said.
“The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as we have seen over the last few years. These are man-made rules that get changed on a whim and to suit questionable objectives; they are not moral or right,” Matosevic said.
In the findings, however, Matosevic’s complaints were rejected.
“The request for and obtaining of a player’s phone is an orthodox investigative tool in light of the limitations and challenges involved in detecting and prosecuting doping offence. Whilst no doubt inconvenient, it is a requirement which professional sports people understand as part of the price of an effective anti-doping system.”
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