… but tennis player denies any wrongdoing
LONDON, England (Reuters) – France’s Richard Gasquet has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for cocaine, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said yesterday.

“He’s under investigation with respect to ITF’s anti-doping programme. Under WADA terms, once B sample confirms A sample, we have to provisionally suspend him,” Stuart Miller, the ITF’s head of Science and Technical, told Reuters.

“From the point of B sample being known to the end of hearing, it should be no longer than 60 days.”

Gasquet confirmed on Sunday he had failed the test at last month’s Miami tournament but has denied any wrongdoing.

The French tennis federation (FFT) said Gasquet would not take part in the French Open later this month.

“This is now official, he won’t play in Roland Garros this year,” FFT director Gilbert Ysern, also the French Open director, told reporters.

“I have talked to Richard over the phone and he protests his innocence. But it is up to him to decide how to defend himself; it is not up to the French federation.”

Until this year, tennis players who had failed drugs test could continue to play in tournaments until they had a chance to appeal the findings.

It was only if they failed to clear their names at a tribunal would the ITF hand out bans to the players.

From January this year the ITF has followed the rules of the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA) and hence has suspended Gasquet before the Frenchman has had a chance to contest the samples.

Under WADA rules, athletes must stop playing within 10 days of being notified of the findings of the A sample.

On Sunday the 22-year-old Gasquet said he had a hair sample tested by an independent lab “which showed no trace of cocaine”.

“Given the complexity of the case, I am gathering the evidence of my innocence and will later set a date to make further comments,” he added.

Gasquet had pulled out of the Sony Ericsson Open without playing a match, citing a shoulder injury.

If Gasquet fails to clear his name, he could face a two-year suspension from the sport.