Rusedski: ATP is 'discriminatory'
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Rusedski arrived in Adelaide on Friday to prepare for the Australian Open
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LONDON, England -- Greg Rusedski claims that more than 40 leading tennis players have tested for "elevated levels" of the banned steroid nandrolone.
And the Briton, who admits failing a drugs test, accused the ATP, mens' tennis' governing body, of "discriminatory" action after it said in July its trainers might unwittingly have given illegal substances to players.
"Drug-taking is not rife in tennis and something here is very wrong," Rusedski said in a statement.
"From the top 120 players on the ATP there are now 47 samples demonstrating elevated levels of nandrolone.
"There has been no explanation for this. I am one of the 47," continued Rusedski, who failed a drugs test at a tournament in Indianapolis in July but denies using performance-enhancing drugs.
The ATP has conceded that supplements given to players may have contained nandrolone. As a result it lifted a two-year nandrolone ban imposed on Czech player Bohdan Ulirach.
Big scandal
"The only explanation the ATP has been able to find is that they caused it," said Rusedski, calling the affair "one of the biggest scandals to surface in world sport."
"I am sure in my own mind that all the players concerned are innocent. If it was unfair and unreasonable to proceed to prosecution or investigation of the previous cases, equally I consider it will be wrong and unfair to proceed with mine.
"However, the ATP, for reasons I simply do not understand, have not taken this view. Instead of treating me in the same category as all of the other players who have demonstrated elevated levels of nandrolone, I appear to have been singled out for this treatment.
"This is wrong, unfair and discriminatory. Instead of prosecuting me, the ATP should be trying to investigate this matter. No other innocent players should suffer as I have done."
Rusedski, a former U.S. Open finalist now ranked 119th in the world, faces a hearing in Montreal on February 9.
In the meantime he has been cleared to play at the Australian Open, the first grand slam of the season, which starts in Melbourne on January 19.
