France's Richard Gasquet admitted yesterday that he had tested positive for cocaine, but insisted he would battle to clear his name.
France's Richard Gasquet admitted yesterday that he had tested positive for cocaine, but insisted he would battle to clear his name.The world number 23, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2007 and once regarded as one of the game's brightest talents, tested positive at the Miami Masters in March and could now face a two-year ban from the sport.
"The test of the B sample submitted at the end of March 2009, during the Miami tournament where I did not participate, confirmed the positive result of the A sample taken on the same day," the 22-year-old Gasquet said in a statement.
However, Gasquet revealed that he had submitted himself to an independent test and that a hair analysis "showed no trace of cocaine".
"Taking into account the complexity of this affair, I intend now to prove my innocence and will explain myself at an appropriate time."
Gasquet pulled out of his opening match in Miami against Spain's Albert Montanes because of a shoulder injury.
He withdrew from this week's tournament in Estoril with an elbow injury and is not playing at the Madrid Masters, which got under way on Saturday.
Cocaine has proved the downfall of a number of high-profile sportsmen in recent years including football legend Diego Maradona while, on Saturday, world champion cyclist Tom Boonen was suspended by his team for a second positive test for the drug.
In 2007, former women's tennis world number one Martina Hingis tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon and although the Swiss player denied she had taken the drug, she was banned for two years. However, Hingis had already announced her retirement before the suspension was handed down.
