Argentine tennis player Facundo Bagnis has voluntarily begun a provisional suspension after testing positive for hydrochlorothiazide, a substance classified as a diuretic and masking agent, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced Thursday.
The 35-year-old Bagnis’ positive test came during US Open qualifying in August, where he lost in the first round—marking his sixth consecutive defeat in Grand Slam qualifying. Bagnis reached a career-high ATP ranking of No. 55 in 2016.
Bagnis was notified of the result earlier this month and chose to begin his provisional suspension last week, which would count as time served if a formal ban is later imposed.
In a statement shared on social media, Bagnis strongly denied knowingly taking a banned substance and emphasized his commitment to clearing his name. He revealed he is working with legal counsel and a medical toxicologist to explore the possibility of cross-contamination.
“I want to be clear, I’ve never knowingly taken anything prohibited, that’s why I’m confident in my innocence and that the truth will come to light and reveal a fair outcome,” Bagnis wrote on Instagram.
Calling the situation “one of the worst moments of my professional career,” he added: “The news has taken me completely by surprise. Since the beginning, I have cooperated with the ITIA and been completely and totally transparent in order to clear everything up as quickly as possible. Additionally, I have chosen to accept a voluntary provisional suspension in order to dedicate my full attention to this process and to demonstrate that I have nothing to hide.”
Bagnis’ case will now proceed through ITIA’s anti-doping process, and the tennis world will be watching closely to see how the situation unfolds.
