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The Drug Circus As one player makes his return to the tour, another gets banned while a third picks up a lucrative cheque from a TV show. First off, Richard Gasquet, the Frenchman who That suspension has now been suspended following a successful appeal to the Court of Arbitration where he argued that kissing a woman called ‘Pamela’ several times in a nightclub, was the means by which the substance entered his body. Now he is happy to be back following what he refers to as the saddest time of his life but now he is “Back on the court, so I can forget all the problems I have had.” But it might not be for long. The International Tennis Federation are not happy at the development and they in turn have appealed the Court’s ruling so there is a possibility that the ban could be reinstated. Then we have the possible scenario that ‘Pamela’, clearly unhappy at being dragged into the affair claiming his evidence was ‘defamatory, is in deep discussions with her own lawyers with regard to possible actions against the Frenchman. |
Meantime Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic, has been banned following a positive drug test after a Davis Cup match victory over Argentina in July. Not surprisingly the 25-year-old Minar, who is ranked 66th
and hasn’t won an ATP tour title since turning professional in 2002, denies
any deliberate However he has pulled out of the US Open citing an injury which is not being interpreted as a sign of guilt and its not clear whether he will be playing in the Davis Cup semifinal against Croatia on Sept. 18-20. And then there is Martina Hingis, the former Wimbledon champion who is banned from tennis for cocaine. Her appearance in Strictly Come Dancing, has upset a few people, especially as she is allegedly earning £50,000 for signing up. Hingis, 28, winner of five grand slam titles, was banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in 2008 after testing positive for the drug during the 2007 Wimbledon tournament. On the news being released, Hingis promptly retired from the game for the second time in her career. She claims she is "100% innocent", but the ITF ruled against her and ordered her to repay nearly £80,000 in prize money. |
John Beyer, of campaign group mediawatch-UK, questioned
the BBC's decision. He said: "This is a family show that is targeted at
a family audience. The danger is that this Speaking at the series launch in London, Hingis said of her past: "It's behind me, this is a new challenge. I want people to see a different side to me than the person running round the tennis court,” and speaking about the competition itself, she added: "Everything I do, I do to win. I am very competitive." The BBC said in a statement: "As she herself said today, her past is behind her and she is looking forward to a new challenge on the show." 31st August 2009 Picture:
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was
found to have taken cocaine while in Miami, makes a welcome return to the US Open
having missed both the French Open and Wimbledon due to suspension.
doping.
"I have never consciously taken a banned substance," he said in a
statement. 
decision
would tend to minimise the seriousness of her drug-taking, which resulted in
a ban on her playing. The question is whether it sets a good or bad
example."