Tennis has been a launchpad for many rising stars, shaping careers and inspiring dreams. Yet, beneath the sport’s glittering surface lies a darker side that has claimed some careers. Laslo Djere’s current coach, Mariano Puerta, knows this all too well. Once a promising player himself, Puerta’s career took a devastating turn due to a doping scandal that cast a long shadow over his achievements. So, what exactly happened to Mariano Puerta, and how did he navigate through such a turbulent chapter in his life?

Djere partnered with the Argentine coach in May this year, after splitting with his long-time coach Jaroslav Lewinsky following the Australian Open. Speaking in an interview, he said, “I needed a coach and he needed a player, so an agent introduced us. He is a really decent and nice person.” But interestingly, Puerto had quite a controversial career when he was on the tennis courts, including the controversy that revolved around doping. 

Puerta peaked in his tennis career during the clay court season of 2005. He advanced to the finals of the Roland Garros, where he faced a defeat at the hands of Rafael Nadal. But what followed after the sensational campaign can rightly be called a nightmare, especially for a player who was rising high up the ranks.

Four months after his French Open run and entering into the top 10 of the world rankings, Puerto was banned for eight years, for his second doping offense after 2003. The Argentine star tested positive for etilefrine, a banned cardiorespiratory stimulant. However, he claimed to be innocent before the investigating agencies.

The justification provided by Puerta was that he drank water from a glass used by his then-wife Sol Estevanez to take Effortil, a medication against menstrual cramps that contains etilefrine. Owing to the defense, the suspension was reduced to two years, and he made a comeback to the tennis courts in 2007. However, he never managed to regain his old momentum and soon hung up his racquets in 2009. But there is more to this doping controversy!

Fifteen years after the case unfolded, the former player claimed that his defense was all made up and was untrue. In 2020, the Argentine admitted that he lied to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to reduce his suspension. As per Puerta, the false narrative was created by lawyer Eduardo Moliné O’Connor, who died in 2014. Remember, O’Connor was a member of CAS from 1998 to 2006 and worked as an executive for Argentina’s tennis association.

Puerta also acknowledged that the origin of the drug was from ginseng and caffeine pills that a friend of his fitness coach prepared for him. But years have passed now, and the former player now suggests the players not to follow in his footsteps. 

‘I was irresponsible’ – When Laslo Djere’s Coach Mariano Puerta made honest admissions

The entire doping controversy seems to have taught Puerta a lesson. As the former pro now focuses on molding tennis players and bringing out the best in them, he advises most of them to be ‘responsible.’

Speaking after acknowledging the lie behind his doping controversy, Puerta said, “To today’s tennis players I would say don’t do anything that puts you in a position like mine.” Continuing further, he advised the players to be more responsible and cautious. “Being extremely responsible, do not delegate, do not trust anybody. The price that you might pay for making a mistake is very high. It doesn’t make sense. I was irresponsible.” 

As the ongoing US Open progresses, it would be interesting to see how well Puerta’s life lessons and skills help his mentee Laslo Djere. Can he show some magical skills against Novak Djokovic in the second round and pull off an upset? Only time will tell.