tennis - positively scandalous!

Tennis star Richard Gasquet received a preliminary 2-year ban today after an independant body found that he tested positive for cocaine in his urine sample.

The 22-year old has been preparing for the Miami Masters, but this devastating blow must lead to a re-think in terms of his career prospects.

The Frenchman's short career to date has produced considerable success; he reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2007, and is now ranked 7th in the competition, and in his debut season (2002) he became the youngest player to finish the season inside the top 200 ATP player rankings.

Details of the events are still hazy at this stage, but it is known that Gasquet will have a formal hearing within 60 days. A statement from his said:

"Given the complexity of my case, I am gathering the evidence of my innocence and will set a date to make further comments."

If found guilty at tribunal, Gasquet's career in tennis could be ruined. Already with 5 singles to his name, and ranked 23rd in the world, Gasquets seemed destined for greatnest.

Now, he is contemplating the end to his short but prolific career to date in the latest high-profile drugs scandal in tennis.

In 2004, controvery stirred after Canadian-born Greg Rusedski tested positive for the banned substnace nandrolene. Rusedski, at the time, was the British number 2 seed.

In 2003 he lost his head during a Wimbledon second-round match with Australian Andy Roddick, and was fined £1500 for an obscene tirade of abuse directed at the match umpire.