Croatia’s Marin Cilic has had his suspension for doping reduced from nine months to four by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Friday.
Cilic, 25, currently ranked 47th in the world, tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide at the Munich Open in May and was banned by an independent tribunal in September.
The ban was backdated to May 1, meaning he would have been able to return to action next February.
However, the CAS ruled the ban should run for four months from June 26, meaning it now expires on Saturday, leaving Cilic free to compete in the Paris Masters from next Monday.
Cilic will open against a qualifier with a potential second-round clash against fourth seeded Juan Martin del Potro.
Cilic, a former world number nine and 2010 Australian Open semi-finalist, provided a urine sample during the Munich event and an accredited laboratory in Montreal found it to contain nikethamide, which is on the WADA list of banned substances.
He claimed he was unaware that Coramine tablets he bought contained nikethamide, for which he did not hold a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.
“The substance in question originated from a glucose tablet purchased at a pharmacy in France. Unbeknownst to me, the glucose tablets contained a substance that is banned in competition,” Cilic said in a statement at the time.
“I wish to emphasise that I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any banned substances in my life and that I am opposed to any use of performance-enhancing substances in sport.”
Cilic, the winner of nine titles in his career, has not played since Wimbledon where he withdrew before his second round match citing an injury.