A TENNIS player has been banned for TWO YEARS after testing positive for marijuana.
American Casey Kania, 21, who competed for the University of North Carolina, returned the positive urine test at an ATP Challenger tournament in August 2023 where he was beaten in the quarter finals.
He has only reached a career-high doubles ranking of 1,317th and pulled in just $482 in tennis earnings.
But the International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed on Tuesday he has been slapped with a two-year ban.
That is despite them confirming Kania "did not intentionally breach the provisions".
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An intentional breach would have been punishable with a four-year ban.
Kania is now ineligible to play until February 1, 2026.
And Britain's Liam Broady took aim at the decision as he criticised tennis bosses.
He posted on X: "What a joke.
"Really going after the big fish here ????. I’d pay a lot of money to see somebody playing better tennis in THAT heat in Cary after smoking a joint ????."
Kania's results, prize money and ranking points from the event where he tested positive - and any subsequent tournaments - have been forfeited.
As well as being banned from playing in tennis events, he is also suspended from attending tournaments sanctioned by the ATP, WTA, ITF or any of the Grand Slams.
The decision comes after American former world No.33 Jenson Brooksby saw his doping ban cut from 18 months to 13 months earlier this month after he missed three drugs tests.
Meanwhile, two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep is appealing her four-year ban after testing positive for prohibited anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat following the 2022 US Open.