LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Past French Open finalist Sara Errani‘s doping suspension has been increased from two months to 10 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
CAS announced Monday its rulings on appeals by Errani and Italy’s national anti-doping agency, which asked for up to a two-year punishment.
The 31-year-old Italian tested positive for the banned substance letrozole in an out-of-competition drug test at her family home in February 2017. Errani was told about the result in April 2017, but she decided to continue competing with the hope of winning on appeal.
Her original two-month ban was served from August to October 2017. That period will count toward her new 10-month suspension.
“I have dedicated my life to this sport and I don’t think I deserve all this,” she wrote on Twitter. “I feel powerless against such an injustice. … All of this is a total nonsense! … I don’t know if I will be able to find the strength and desire to play tennis again, after all this.”
CAS ruled that the letrozole came from medicine taken by Errani’s mother “that found its way into the family meal prepared by the athlete’s mother and eaten by the entire family, including the athlete” in February 2017. But the court said Errani needed to be more careful and that her mother’s fault “is imputed to her.”
Errani lost the 2012 final at Roland Garros to Maria Sharapova and was ranked as high as No. 5 in singles the next year. Errani also completed a career Grand Slam in doubles with Roberta Vinci.
Errani is ranked 72nd this week. She lost in the first round of the French Open.