Melo banned over failed test

Brazilian doubles specialist Marcelo Melo has been banned for two months for taking a banned substance.

Doubles ace punished for unknowingly taking banned substance

Brazilian doubles specialist Marcelo Melo has been banned for two months after failing a drugs test, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed. The 24-year-old, who reached the men's semi-finals at Wimbledon with compatriot Andre Sa, tested positive for the banned stimulant isometheptene at Queen's Club in June. "The ITF found that there had been no intent on the part of Mr Melo to enhance his sporting performance by the taking of isometheptene and therefore determined that Mr Melo should be suspended for a period of two months," the ruling body said in a statement. Melo's suspension has been backdated to September 10 and he will be free to play after November 9. He will forfeit prize money and ranking points earned at Queen's Club and the US Open, but will keep the points earned at events in the intervening period as he was unaware of the test results. Melo and Sa established a new Wimbledon record when they won the fifth set of their match against Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett 28-26.