yesterday 10:46 am
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He’ll know what he’s up to in March. Regardless of the outcome of the doping case, Andrej Martin does not intend to end his tennis career under the pressure of external circumstances.
He last played a competitive match last year on July 19. On July 22, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced a suspension to him internally pending the resolution of an adverse analytical finding during the June anti-doping control.
The ITF published the report on August 9. The illicit substance present was the selective androgen receptor modulator SARM S-22. Analysis of the B-sample yielded the same result.
“By far the hardest part of this whole situation is the endless waiting for each next step,” says Andrej Martin more than half a year later.
“I don’t want to offend anyone, because I don’t know how long the preparations for the trial usually take. However, I feel that competent people have time for everything, while I remain like a criminal for the context of the sports world. It’s incredibly gut-wrenching, as I myself live with the inner certainty that I have never knowingly cheated. Fair play is one of the highest values for me,” stresses the 33-year-old from Bratislava.
Photo gallery
Slovak tennis player Andrej Martin.
Source: TASR
The former Davis Cup representative was initially worried that the contamination would change the opinion of the people around him. “The exact opposite happened. I experienced tremendous support, which pleasantly surprised me: family, friends, acquaintances, but also strangers… I didn’t encounter a single negative reaction. It turned out that a person builds his reputation throughout his life, and one stain will not change that.”
The finalist of the ATP World Tour 250 clay event in Umag, Croatia 2016, Andrej Martin especially highlights the approach of people who helped him find new and different horizons during this period: “I am grateful to them for that, because I really needed it.”
Comparably, he appreciates the attitude of the representation agency Stars For Stars: “I cannot even express the extent of my gratitude for the trust and support. When others put their hands away from me, they stayed by my side. That is something that one appreciates and remembers.
Together with the manager Miro Masarčin and experts in the given matters, we worked to prove as best we could that I never knowingly took anything forbidden. I would not like to go into details shortly before the hearing, but I firmly believe that it will be clarified.”
Photo gallery
Slovak tennis player Andrej Martin.
Source: TASR
In the other period, there were several cases with the common denominator of SARM S-22. The former 93rd player in the world ranking did not leave it unnoticed, but there was no coordinated procedure.
“Together with my team, we are watching it closely and trying to learn as much as possible from it. I tried to contact athletes and share experiences, but not very successfully, which is a shame. Of course, I understand that, as these are very delicate matters and each case is unique in its own way,” recognizes the holder of a dozen challenger titles in singles and fifteen in doubles.
The fact that the incriminated collection took place during the tournament in Bratislava gave room for conjecture, even conspiracies. But not for the player himself: “I don’t consider it anything but a coincidence. I take about ten tests a year and see no reason why this one should be any different. The question was raised a few times whether I could have haters who would participate in it. However, I resolutely refuse to go in this direction in my reasoning and explanations.”
However, one differentiating factor related to the scene entered the retrospective evaluation after a positive finding: “At home tournaments, I always have a more varied regime. So it was all the more difficult to remember all the details that preceded the given collection.”
Andrej Martin hopes that the lockout will soon pass: “I firmly believe that the distance was over and the verdict will mean the green light for me to return to the court. I don’t want to lose an extra day.”
Photo gallery
Slovak tennis player Andrej Martin.
Source: TASR
He is convinced that he can still achieve something in tennis, he has unachieved goals: “I may not be able to fulfill them, but I want to do my best for them. I’ve always been a bit of a late riser. I pushed myself in everything until I got the hang of it and mastered it. However, I especially dislike the idea that I should end a lifelong effort not 100% by my own free decision.”
Since the summer, he kept himself physically active by taking a peek into the world of golf, cycling, soccer, floorball… “I’m a huge sports fanatic and I started trying different industries that I never had time for because of tennis. I want to be well prepared for my return.”
For now, he doesn’t dwell too much on the future after his career: “I have a few projects and ideas that I would like to implement, some of which I am already starting. I know for sure that I want to be useful to society in some way. Life is colorful. When a person is open, many interesting opportunities come to him.”
Until recently, Andrej Martin did not even know the date of the trial, and his priorities and schedule were even worse. “It’s hard to plan something when I don’t know how the doping matter will turn out. If the distance is extended, I will finally be able to make a proper schedule. Until now, it was literally month to month.”
Photo gallery
Slovak tennis player Andrej Martin.
Source: TASR
The factor of the length of the sentence is not allowed to deviate excessively: “I’m trying to do everything to make it as good as possible. After that, it will be up to other people. I believe they will make a fair decision.”
Andrej Martin does not consider the possible use of the instance of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to be a topical issue: “However, I would definitely get advice from people who have experience with similar things.”
