Rusedski against ex-drug ban rival
SYDNEY, Australia -- Greg Rusedski, who has admitted testing positive for nandrolone, has been drawn against former banned player Juan Ignacio Chela in next week's Sydney International first round.
Britain's Rusedski says he failed a drugs test taken in Indianoplis last July but has vowed to clear his name.
He says he has been made a scapegoat for what was "one of the biggest scandals in world sport" while Chela served a three-month ban in 2001 for taking nandrolone.
Rusedski said his case was similar to that of Czech player Bohdan Ulihrach whose two-year drugs ban was overturned in July when it was discovered that a mineral tablet given to him by a tour trainer contained traces of the banned anabolic steroid.
"From the top 120 players on the ATP there are now 43 samples demonstrating elevated levels of nandrolone. There has been no explanation for this. I am one of the 43," said the 30-year-old Canadian-born player.
"Drug-taking is not rife in tennis and something here is very wrong."
Tournament director Paul McNamee said on Friday Rusedski had every right to take part in the Australian Open on January 19 despite failing a drugs test.
McNamee said although Rusedski had admitted testing positive for nandrolone, he had yet to face disciplinary hearing and under ATP rules was entitled to play in the first Grand Slam event of the year.
"He still hasn't been found guilty and sanctioned," McNamee said at the Hopman Cup team tennis tournament in Perth.
"We know that there's an initial infringement but the hearing, I believe, is on February 9 and until that hearing, when he will either be found guilty, or alternatively, as Greg believes, he will be shown to be completely innocent, there is no sanction on him which stops him from playing in any tournament."
The Sydney International tournament gets under way at Homebush on Sunday.
