ITF suspends Gasquet after test finds cocaine
LONDON (AP) The ITF suspended French tennis player Richard Gasquet on Monday following his positive test for cocaine, pending a hearing.
The International Tennis Federation said an anti-doping tribunal should be assembled within 60 days to hear the case.
Gasquet says he is gathering evidence to prove his innocence, despite both his "A" and "B" samples coming back positive for cocaine.
Traces of the drug were found in the 22-year-old Gasquet's urine sample at the Sony Ericsson Open, in Key Biscayne, Fla., in March.
"He's suspended until the end of the hearing," ITF spokesman Neil Robinson said. "We're now assembling an anti-doping tribunal. The ideal time-frame is within 60 days, but people have to fly in from all over the world for it."
Gasquet could face a two-year ban if found guilty.
The Frenchman, who was ranked seventh in July 2007 but has since slipped to No. 21, has played just five matches since pulling out of the Sony Ericsson Open before his second-round match against Albert Montanes of Spain.
Gasquet cited a right shoulder injury for the withdrawal and has since returned to action in Barcelona and at the Rome Masters, where he lost in the third round to Fernando Verdasco on May 1.
Martina Hingis was banned for two years early last year after testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. The five-time Grand Slam champion and former top-ranked player failed a test after losing to Laura Granville in June 2007.
Hingis, who has since retired, became the second WTA player suspended for cocaine after Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain was banned for three months in 2002.
Gasquet, who lost to Roger Federer in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2007, was considered a future star when he first arrived on tour with a one-handed backhand widely considered among the best in the game.
LONDON (AP) The ITF suspended French tennis player Richard Gasquet on Monday following his positive test for cocaine, pending a hearing.
The International Tennis Federation said an anti-doping tribunal should be assembled within 60 days to hear the case.
Gasquet says he is gathering evidence to prove his innocence, despite both his "A" and "B" samples coming back positive for cocaine.
Traces of the drug were found in the 22-year-old Gasquet's urine sample at the Sony Ericsson Open, in Key Biscayne, Fla., in March.
"He's suspended until the end of the hearing," ITF spokesman Neil Robinson said. "We're now assembling an anti-doping tribunal. The ideal time-frame is within 60 days, but people have to fly in from all over the world for it."
Gasquet could face a two-year ban if found guilty.
The Frenchman, who was ranked seventh in July 2007 but has since slipped to No. 21, has played just five matches since pulling out of the Sony Ericsson Open before his second-round match against Albert Montanes of Spain.
Gasquet cited a right shoulder injury for the withdrawal and has since returned to action in Barcelona and at the Rome Masters, where he lost in the third round to Fernando Verdasco on May 1.
Martina Hingis was banned for two years early last year after testing positive for cocaine at Wimbledon. The five-time Grand Slam champion and former top-ranked player failed a test after losing to Laura Granville in June 2007.
Hingis, who has since retired, became the second WTA player suspended for cocaine after Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain was banned for three months in 2002.
Gasquet, who lost to Roger Federer in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2007, was considered a future star when he first arrived on tour with a one-handed backhand widely considered among the best in the game.