Marinko Matosevic’s bombshell confession: Details 2018 blood transfusion, accuses tennis integrity agency of ‘unjust and threatening’ practices in a scathing letter.
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Marinko Matosevic, a former world No. 39 who later transitioned to coaching, contacted the Australian media outlet The First Serve to discuss a doping incident from 2018 and denounce the practices of the ITIA, the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
In his statement, he declared: “It is with a heavy heart and a clear mind that I write this. I have been under investigation by the ITIA since the 2024 Rome Masters 1000. The investigation concerns a prohibited method I used in February 2018.
“I have decided to admit what I did”
I can confirm that it is true. Even though the ITIA has no real evidence of my wrongdoing, I have decided to admit what I did due to the corrupt nature of the procedure and the absurdity of the other accusations.
In desperate circumstances (I had health issues in 2017), I foolishly and recklessly underwent a blood transfusion in Morelos, Mexico. I was so disgusted with myself that I retired the following week, at the age of 32 and a half.
Shortly after, I realized how precious life is and how serious and irresponsible my decision was. I was not involved in tennis at all for almost two years, and in professional tennis for three years.
“The ITIA takes your phone under threatening circumstances”
I am writing this confession letter, first to warn other athletes not to do anything that could harm their health and endanger their lives, because there is a long life after an athlete’s career.
Secondly, I am writing this letter to let the tennis world know how corrupt and unfair the ITIA’s procedure is. They take your phone under threatening circumstances and build legal cases from photos and assumptions drawn from text messages that literally date back more than five years.
The entire process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as seen in recent years! These are man-made rules, changed at will and to serve questionable objectives; they are neither moral nor fair!
“The current systems in tennis should be dismantled”
The other accusations of ‘complicity’ against me are completely absurd and have been assembled solely with messages dating back several years, using other invented laws like ‘intent’.
After going through this process from start to finish and discussing it with others who know the subject or have also experienced the same thing, the only logical conclusion is that the current systems in tennis should be dismantled!
Players have all the power; if they unite, they can achieve real positive change! For the reasons mentioned above, I will not attend the scheduled hearing next week, I am ending the procedure myself, and I will cease all communication with the ITIA. The truth will set you free!”