Robert Farah's suspension came into effect today ©ITF

The reigning Wimbledon doubles champion Robert Farah has officially been provisionally suspended for doping, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has confirmed. 

Under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2019 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme, the suspension follows Farah providing a urine sample as part of an out-of-competition testing mission on October 17 2019.

Farah's sample was sent to the World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited (WADA) laboratory in Montreal, Canada for analysis - and was found to contain boldenone and its metabolite.

Boldenone is a non-specified prohibited substance, which carries a mandatory provisional suspension.

On January 11 2020, Farah was charged and provisionally suspended, with effect from January 21 2020.

The 32-year-old has the right to apply to the Chair of the Independent Tribunal, but has chosen not to exercise that right to date.

Farah has denied the allegation.

"I will not be able to play at the Australian Open, an event for which I had been preparing since December," Farah wrote on Twitter last week.

"A few hours ago the ITF informed me of the presence of Boldenone in a test that I did on Oct. 17, 2019 in Cali.

"Two weeks before the test mentioned... I did an anti-doping test in Shanghai which had a negative result.

"And I was also tested at least 15 other times randomly in the international circuit throughout the year with the same negative result.

"As stated by the Colombian Olympic Committee in 2018, this substance is found frequently in Colombian meat and may affect athletes' test results.

"I am calm and confident in the results of this process since I have always acted correctly and honestly in my life.

"I will work harder than ever to return to the courts in the shortest time possible."

Farah is ranked number one in the world, and is half of the Colombian partnership with Juan Sebastian Cabal that won two grand slam titles (Wimbledon, US Open) in 2019.

Chilean player Nicolas Jarry has also been provisionally suspended from January 14, having tested positive for (Ligandrol) metabolite and Stanozolol metabolite - both on the WADA Prohibited List (Anabolic Agents).

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme applies to all players competing at grand slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation, Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association.