Hingis discusses positive cocaine test as two-year ITF ban lapses

[ispaht]

Hingis discusses positive cocaine test as two-year ITF ban lapses

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...gis/index.html

Wednesday marks Martina Hingis' 29th birthday. It also marks the final day of her two-year drug suspension from the International Tennis Federation.

While we've been conditioned to raise a skeptical eye when athletes profess innocence and ignorance after a positive drug test result, the ITF stance was troubling from the onset.

To review: The ITF claims that 42 nanograms per milliliter of a cocaine metabolite was found in Hingis' system, as per a drug test administered after her third-round defeat at Wimbledon in 2007. This is an amount so trace that it would not trigger a positive result had the test been administered by the U.S. military. In the wake of the positive result, Hingis voluntarily took a hair-follicle test -- which, unlike a lie-detector test, is cited by drug experts as meaningful and reliable. It indicated no traces of cocaine in her system in the 90 days following Wimbledon.

The amount was so trace that, in marked contrast to Richard Gasquet -- who was cleared to return after completing a 2½-month ban in July when an anti-doping panel ruled that he accidentally ingested cocaine by kissing a woman at a nightclub -- Hingis was at a loss even to fashion a plausible theory about how she could have tested positive. (In the past few months the British media have reported about trace levels of cocaine turning up everywhere from the Thames River to restroom sinks.) Though circumstantial evidence is just that -- circumstantial -- it defies logic that a veteran player who had passed upwards of 100 tests, some of them unannounced and out of competition, would dabble with cocaine in conjunction with a Grand Slam, knowing with virtual certainty that she would be tested.

Under the "strict-liability standard" -- which means the athlete is responsible regardless of culpability or circumstance -- Hingis was stuck, guilty until proven innocent. As a first-time offender, she faced a mandatory two-year suspension.

Though never directly attributed to the peculiarities of her case, curiously, in the months after her hearing, rules were altered and administrators were given latitude to dispense suspensions of any length from zero to two years.

With Hingis back from her foray into reality television, we caught up with her by phone at her stable in Switzerland.

SI.com: From an emotional standpoint, how do feel you've handled the past two years?

Martina Hingis: OK. There were hard times and it was frustrating knowing I did nothing wrong but couldn't really fight this. It was my reputation and I knew the truth. But the process didn't really let me fight.

SI.com: Given your outspoken personality, I think it surprised a lot of people that maybe you weren't as forceful, deciding, for instance, not to appeal. Do you regret that?

Hingis: Like you say, I always spoke [honestly] even if I wasn't always politically correct. I spoke the truth even when the truth may have hurt me. But the system was set up in such a way that there was nothing I could do.

SI.com: Bottom line: have you ever ...

Hingis: No. Taken cocaine? Never. No [recreational] drugs. I don't know even the effects. I've maybe been in a position where I could have. But never, no. If I had ever taken cocaine, I would have said so.

SI.com: Before this happened, did you ever worry about a situation like this?

Hingis: No, because I probably had between 80-100 tests and no problems. The only thing I would ever take was aspirin and I was very particular about these things. Even if I had a flu I'd call my doctor and say, "What can I take?" I was always very cautious. I never took anything that was not approved first.

SI.com: Were any players notably supportive?

Hingis: Billie Jean King wrote a letter on my behalf. But, you know, I wasn't allowed at the Grand Slams, even to enter the stadium during tournaments. So I had little contact with the other players.

SI.com: Richard Gasquet?

Hingis: No.

SI.com: Lots of comebacks going on. You're 10 years younger than Kimiko Date ...

Hingis: I'll leave it Justine [Henin]! It's not so easy. You need to commit. You can't just do it when you want to. I know the women's game isn't at the highest point it's ever been. OK, look at Kim [Clijsters]. But she has the family support, the husband, she's physically strong. She played three tournaments and she's right back and I don't think anyone can hurt her on the court.

SI.com: What is your relationship with tennis?

Hingis: I love tennis, still a big part of my life. I didn't play much in the beginning of the suspension, but then I played more. Now when I play, a lot of the time it's with juniors. I've been able to [distinguish] between the sport and the administrators.

I've always believed Hingis was framed on trumped up charges. Missed her distinctive game & her personality a lot, even if she was a bit bratty. Wish she would consider coming back & join Henin and Kim at the top.

[Linfei]

I would like to see her being back too, but frankly in her case, I think it's more much difficult... maybe 1-5% chance....

[backhander]

How does Hingis' infraction and punishment compare to Gasquet's?

Hingis got banned for 2 years and Gasquet got like close to nothing, what was the deal?

[Lionheart392]

Maybe it's just me, but I always forget about the cocaine scandal when I think about Hingis. Like I would think about her career first and the cocaine would be an afterthought. I don't think her reputation is that badly affected which should make her feel better at least.

[sureshs]

Why didn't she sue for defamation if the test was wrong? Why did she just accept the decision without protest? There is something going on which we don't know.

Kids, please don't do drugs.

[mandy01]

I dont know how Gasquet was let off when he claimed he got it in his system because he kissed a girl.Had she applied it on her lips or something?
I love Richou but I have a hard time believing his verdict.
As for Hingis.Its hard to find details of how her case was exactly dealt with by the ITF and how they came to a conclusion that a ban was in order..perhaps due to the fact that she was tested positive during a tournament,unlike Gasquet.

[Mick]

i wonder why the penalty for using cocaine is so harsh for a tennis player. The drug doesn't give them any advantage over other players like steroid does. 2-year ban, that's a long time.

[jwbarrientos]

Originally Posted by backhander

How does Hingis' infraction and punishment compare to Gasquet's?

Hingis got banned for 2 years and Gasquet got like close to nothing, what was the deal?

As I said before, Richard just kissed a girl and nobody guarantees where Martina put her lips, you know

[NamRanger]

Originally Posted by sureshs

Why didn't she sue for defamation if the test was wrong? Why did she just accept the decision without protest? There is something going on which we don't know.

I agree, if her results were similar or even smaller than Gasquet's, and based on the evidence that trace of cocaine have been found in London, I find it ridiculous that she did not appeal.

[eric draven]

I've always thought the way she was forced to leave tennis was questionable. This sheds some light on her situation but it's a shame. I've always liked her game and even though she would get overpowered by the top females she had an entertaining game to watch.

[jimbo333]

Originally Posted by eric draven

I've always thought the way she was forced to leave tennis was questionable. This sheds some light on her situation but it's a shame. I've always liked her game and even though she would get overpowered by the top females she had an entertaining game to watch.

If she really thought that she could have challenged for world no1 again, I think she would have appealed the decision!

[grafselesfan]

Originally Posted by 1970CRBase

Wish she would consider coming back & join Henin and Kim at the top.

That simply isnt realistic for her. Her game does not work as well amongst the current field as either Henin or Clijsters. Her last comeback was only mildly successful, and a comeback next year at 29 years old would be even less so.

[scotus]

Here's my theory:

Gasquet kissed a girl. Then Hingis kissed Gasquet.

[bojsag]

Originally Posted by Mick

i wonder why the penalty for using cocaine is so harsh for a tennis player. The drug doesn't give them any advantage over other players like steroid does. 2-year ban, that's a long time.

Can cocaine be used as masking agent for certain PED's? You just don't know what's going on in Swiss tennis these days.

Originally Posted by grafselesfan

That simply isnt realistic for her. Her game does not work as well amongst the current field as either Henin or Clijsters. Her last comeback was only mildly successful, and a comeback next year at 29 years old would be even less so.

Then what is the current field like compared to 2006? Aside from Clijsters and Henin, all I see are head cases, injuries, medocrity, more injuries and the Williamses not particularly motivated to play well.