Tennis Pro Sues Supplement Maker Over Steroid Test Failure

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.—Professional men’s tennis player Guillermo Coria is suing supplement maker Universal Nutrition for negligent manufacturing practices that allowed steroid traces to contaminate multivitamin supplements he claims are to blame for his suspension from pro tennis. Before testing positive for steroids in 2001, the Argentine was number three in the world, according to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings. While his test showed only minute traces of nandrolone—inconsistent with steroid use and performance-enhancement —the rules and judgment of the ATP pinned a two-year suspension on Coria. The then-19-year-old phenom went from top to bottom, not only being absent from the tour, but also losing valuable bonuses and endorsement deals from Prince Racquets and Adidas.

The case against New Brunswick, N.J.-based Universal (aka Universal Protein Supplement Corp.) and G.E.N. Tech LLC will play out in Superior Court of New Jersey, where Coria will argue residue from steroid-containing products made by Universal were allowed to mix with multivitamins, ultimately leading to his testing positive for a minute amount of steroids. In fact, Coria’s punishment was reduced from two years to the seven months he had served when, after having them tested himself, he finally proved to the ATP that Universal’s manufacturing procedures had contaminated his multivitamin—the only supplement he was taking. However, he had still dropped from the top 30 to number 200 in the world in the ATP standings.

“Tennis, like most sports, is a game in which a player’s window of opportunity is small. Coria was harmed at the absolute worst point in his career—as a rising star in his teenage years,” said Gavin Forbes, senior vice president of tennis for IMG Worldwide, which represents many pro tennis players. “Despite his rise in rankings after the suspension to become the number 3 player in the world, Coria forever lost two of the most critical years of his professional career.”

“Guillermo is an honest and dedicated professional athlete who was denied the opportunity to pursue his passion as a result of circumstances beyond his control,” said William C. Nystrom, Esq., of Nystrom Beckman & Paris LLP, the lead attorneys on the case. “Although the two years Guillermo lost as a result of the suspension can never be reclaimed, proving his innocence in this case will restore Corias’ reputation and ensure critical monetary compensation. Our goal is to clear Coria’s name once and for all and ensure that drug companies like Universal adopt better manufacturing procedures so that the reputations of other innocent athletes are not tainted as a result of corporate sloppiness.” He further stated Coria has since regained a high ranking, but a favorable court decision would restore his reputation as one of the top players in professional tennis.

At press time, Universal Nutrition had not returned INSIDER’s request to comment.