Lleyton Hewitt has been suspended for two weeks after being found to have \u2018pushed\u2019 an anti-doping official at the 2024 Davis Cup Finals.<\/p>\n
The sanction against the former world No 1, who is the captain of Australia\u2019s Davis Cup team, will take effect from September 25 \u2013 October 7 in order for it not to be \u2018unduly punitive.\u2019<\/p>\n
Hewitt<\/a> denied the charge of \u2018offesnive conduct\u2019 and argued that he was acting in \u2018self-defence.\u2019<\/p>\n However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) concluded that he had, indeed, pushed a 60-year-old anti-doping official after his team lost their Davis Cup tie against Italy in November 2024.<\/p>\n As a result, Hewitt will be unable to play, captain, coach, or mentor in any official capacity during the two-week period.<\/p>\n Additionally, the two-time Grand Slam champion has been given a fine of around $20,000.<\/p>\n \u201cThe International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) can today confirm that Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has been suspended for two weeks following an independent tribunal ruling under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP),\u201d said the agency in their official statement.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing an ITIA investigation, Hewitt, 44, was charged on 6 January 2025 with a breach of Article 7.15.1.1 of the TADP (engaging in offensive conduct towards a doping control official), after pushing a 60-year-old volunteer anti-doping chaperone at the conclusion of Australia\u2019s Davis Cup semi-final defeat to Italy in Malaga, Spain, on 23 November 2024.<\/p>\n \u201cHewitt denied the charge \u2013 which was brought by the ITIA following review of video evidence, witness statements, and interviews \u2013 citing self-defence.<\/p>\n \u201cThe case was referred to an independent tribunal, convened by Sport Resolutions, and chaired by Michael Heron KC.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOn 4 August 2025, the independent tribunal chair Mr Heron ruled that the charge of offensive conduct was upheld, stating that Hewitt\u2019s actions \u201cdid not meet the requirements of self-defence\u201d, and that his behaviour was \u201cnot reasonable and proportionate,\u201d it continued.<\/p>\n \u201cFollowing both parties\u2019 submissions on appropriate sanction, Mr Heron KC issued Hewitt a two-week suspension.<\/p>\n \u201cAt the chair\u2019s discretion*, the sanction was suspended to be effective from 24 September 2025 until 7 October 2025, so as not to be \u2018unduly punitive\u2019 on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule, and to provide the opportunity for an appeal to be lodged before the sanction enters into effect.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo date, no appeal has been lodged.\u201d<\/p>\n Latest Tennis News<\/p>\n