British tennis player Tara Moore has been cleared of doping charges after an agonising 18-month suspension. The 31-year-old, who once ranked as high as 145th in the world, tested positive for banned substances in May 2022 but has now been fully exonerated.
The Independent Tribunal for Anti-Corruption in Tennis (ITIA) concluded that Moore's positive test resulted from consuming contaminated meat in Bogotá, Colombia, where she had been competing. This verdict comes as a significant relief for the athlete, whose career was put on hold during the investigation.
A Career in Limbo
Moore described the past year and a half as "the hardest period of my life," with her professional ranking plummeting during the enforced break from competition. The ITIA's decision means she can now resume her career without any doping violation on her record.
Contaminated Meat the Culprit
The tribunal accepted evidence that nandrolone and boldenone - the substances found in Moore's system - likely came from meat contaminated with steroids, a known issue in some South American countries. This explanation has previously cleared other athletes in similar circumstances.
Moore expressed gratitude to those who supported her through the ordeal, stating: "I never lost faith that the truth would come out." Her case highlights ongoing challenges in anti-doping efforts, particularly regarding unintentional contamination.
