Viktor Troicki’s 18-month ban reduced to 12 months

Viktor Troicki has had his 18-month ban for failing to provide a blood sample reduced to 12 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Serb was handed with the suspension by the International Tennis Federation following an anti-doping tribunal earlier this year.

Troicki had refused to give a blood sample during the Monte Carlo Masters in April and will now be banned until 15 July 2014.

The 27-year-old’s defence was that he had been told by a doping control official in Monte Carlo that he didn’t have to provide a blood sample because he was feeling unwell after his match and suffered from a needle phobia.

“I hoped that the most difficult period of my career and of my life would be over, and I really trusted the judges I met in Lausanne,” said Troicki, who will miss the first three Grand Slams of 2014.

“I had the feeling that they were really looking for the truth and that they had found it during the hearing.

“Now this decision puts an end to my dreams of being a top player, of reaching the ATP finals and fighting against the best in the world.

“I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didn’t know.”