American tennis player Nathan Ponwith has accepted a one-month suspension under the sport's anti-doping programme after testing positive for cannabis at a World Tennis Tour event earlier this year. The 28-year-old, who reached a career-high singles ranking of 367 in June 2023, provided a sample containing the substance during a tournament in San Jose, Costa Rica, in February 2026.
Cannabis is classified as a prohibited substance in-competition under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, which aligns with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which administers tennis' anti-doping rules, accepted Ponwith's explanation that his use occurred out of competition, meaning it did not breach the in-competition prohibition. The ITIA noted that the player had been cooperative throughout the investigation.
Under WADA's framework, the standard suspension for such a violation is three months, but the penalty can be reduced to one month if the player commits to an ITIA-approved treatment programme. Ponwith has entered such a programme, and as a result his suspension will end on 18 July 2026, subject to successful completion of the treatment plan. This approach reflects WADA's guidelines that encourage rehabilitation alongside enforcement for substance abuse cases.
