He is the second important athlete to test positive for cocaine today. Gasquet is turning out to be a very sad story but I will wait for these type of comments until he is proven guilty. Im guessing he hadnt made any statements yet since there are no quotes in the article. I hope everything turns out well for him

no comments from him yet

who was the first athlete?

Tom Boonen tested positive for cocaine for the 2nd time.. got him excluded from the Tour de France last year

Tom Boonen; a Belgian biker. He got suspended by his team after testing positive twice.

yeah Boonen is (was) good. Will open the door for the sprinters in this year's Tour.

I am soooooo disappointed to hear this.......Gasquet is so awesome in terms of skill and his style of play!!!....I think after Federer, he is my favourite tennis player to watch.......even though i am a Rafantic!

Sad....sad...sad.....

I really HOPE his 'B' sample turns up -ve!!

I'm hoping this is just a rumor- although it seems to be gathering steam, unfortunately. If true, what a terrible decision from Gasquet. Sad, sad, sad.

Hopefully it's a false positive. It would be incredibly sad not only for Richard, but for the sport if true.

I hope it's not ture. This is so sad. He's had one tough ride. Rumours having him linked to a French businessman, troubles with the family now this. Such a talented and nice kid, this would not be a great way to end.

juaz i hope if the test is positive dont baned him... the cocaine dont help you to play better or run faster or get more endurance just make you worst in all.... how hipocrite is the society....

Too bad! I am sure in a couple of years when he is older he will understand what he did wrong?!

Drugs are drugs and in my opinion he is guilty and should take full responsibility! We are talking about a professional tennis player, a professional athlete that should serve as an example to future generations, not only with achievements but also portraying a positive image as a sports figure to the young generations. What kind of image he or any other professional athlete for that matter can portray if he is using drugs? I believe a 3 month ban is a very modest and kind penalty for a professional tennis player using drugs. Tennnis is a career/profession for a tennis player. In the real world, an employee working for a company with a well-defined strict drug policy can loose its job if he tests positive for being under the influence of drugs when random drug tests are performed!!!!! Now here we are, talking about professional tennis players that make millions and it looks like the millions they earn contribute to a irresponsible behavior. A good example what lots of money can do to a young talented professional athlete!

Too bad for Richie. He is one talented player and I hope he will find the strength to overcome this situation and come back more mature and stronger then ever to reach his full tennis potential. Ultimately, that is what life is all about you should learn from your mistakes and I hope he does. On the bright side, he should be happy to have a second chance, because in the real, ordinary world that usually is not the case.

My pennyworth, if true just AWFUL! In my job I see so many people permanently damaged by drug use. They are NEVER a good idea.

Just awful news IF it is true. I have always enjoyed watched gasquet, he has such flair on the court and has provided some really excellent play. I can't believe this though. Every tennis player would know about the 'crack down' ('xcuse the pun...couldnt think of another word....) with the players having to be tested any time within the hour, ANYWHERE in the world....isn't that what rafa and murray were complaining about recently, that it infringed their personal lives...?...a reall STUPID thing to do if it is true, but jury's out until second sample...They can come back negative......

This will be another tennis athlete who will be banned for 2 years if its the case, in 2003, his name escapes me right now, he was found to have taken a banned testosterone drug....just can't believe Gasquet would be so stupid......

Guys.....it was Chela....Juan Ignacio CHELA....he was banned for 3 months for taking steroids. Both samples came back within 3 weeks and both were positive......was the French Open Finalist to Rafa in 2005. He also played in Miami masters this year.

Guillermo Coria was banned for 7 months for taking nandrolone.

Argentina's Mariano Puerta banned in 2005 at the French Open...banned for taking etilefrine. He was analysed by French doping agency in Chatenay-Malabry.

Buillermo Canas banned for 2 years for taking a prohibited diuretic.

WOW.....more athletes than I thought......BUT.....has Gasquet been suffering with a sshoulder injury? perhaps taking medication for that? If so, it could be that the 'drug' he was taking to null the pain could be a banned substance? so he would be innocent in terms of knowledge? cocaine can be taken by MS sufferers MND sufferers to help with the pain? I dunno....just don't want to believe the worst.

Meant to say Guillermo Canas....typo....apologies.

Other then Federer who I adore, the French men were up on my list, I think they are all great guys! hope its not true!!

Malteser I believe it's cannabis you are allowed to take as an MS sufferer, not cocaine.

i mind... come on.... are pro athletes but the cocaine not gonna help him to ply better...then if he wanted take some drugs to have fun once in life a previous weeks to a tournament that doesnt influence the playing and just is one thing in time i think this society is full of bullshits..then do the same with alcohol is another drug.... then return "la ley seca".the pro athletes are personas and can take alcohol or drugs to have fun or somenthing once a year and that's no problem for anybody trying to say the kids the drugas are "bad" is the wrong way to help him.is better helñp the children with information not with bans and all this bullshits...

tennis.com is reporting that Gasquet has confirmed the B sample also tested positive, but maintains his innocence. Let's hope he can prove it, otherwise, I believe they will make an example of him. Martina Hingis got a 2-year suspension...what will Richard's?

Hingis was banned 2 years because she took it at Wimbledon. If its concluded Gasquet took cocaine out of competition the ban will not be as severe as far as I know. He was supposed to play but withdrew in Miami; so I dont know whether that qualifies as out of competition or not.

If he did take drugs, then he did it fully aware of the consequences. Nowadays, they know they are liable to be tested at anytime so why take the risk. I don't believe cocaine is performance enhancing, it's for recreation, but it is banned!

What I find unfair is that actors and singers are not penalised for doing the same thing, in fact they are more highly regarded by their fans the more they induldge. If it's to do with being role models, they should all be treated the same.

Apparently, Gasquet will only be banned for 3 months as this is his first offence. Go to link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyoa7P4fBTU&feature=related

I think he could still face a two year ban:


French media reports that Richard Gasquet tested positive for a controlled substance after Miami. He faces a three month suspension. The original French is followed by a Google translation that was edited by me.

Le joueur de tennis français a été contrôlé positif à une substance prohibée lors d?un contrôle effectué sur le Masters 1000 de Miami, fin mars.

Richard Gasquet, 23 ans, a été contrôlé positif à l?occasion du Masters 1000 de Miami, fin mars. La nouvelle nous a été confirmée par un officiel de la Fédération française de tennis. De source médicale, l'échantillon A du Français présenterait des traces d'une substance interdite par le code mondial antidopage en compétition, de type récréatif (cocaïne, cannabis, etc). Le contrôle a été diligenté par l'Agence mondiale antidopage (AMA).

S?agissant d?une première infraction, Gasquet pourrait n?encourir « que » 3 mois de suspension.


French tennis player Richard Gasquet tested positive for a prohibited substance during a check carried out at the M1000 Miami Masters in late March. The news has been confirmed by an official of the French Tennis Federation. Sample A showed traces of a substance banned by the World Anti Doping Code in competition. The substance falls under the category of recreational, cocaine or cannabis.

Since this is a first offense the penalty is "only" a three month suspension. The audit was conducted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

UPDATE


L'Equipe is confirming initial report and that the amount in his system would warrant a two year suspension. Again French followed by my edited Google translation.

Des traces de cocaïne ont été retrouvées dans l'échantillon A des urines de Richard Gasquet, contrôlé à Miami alors qu'il venait de déclarer forfait pour le tournoi.

Ces traces, de l'ordre de 1,46 microgramme, soit supérieures au seuil de sensibilité de 0,5 demandé à tous les laboratoires accrédités, pourraient valoir au tennisman français, si la contre-expertise corroborait la prime analyse, une suspension de deux ans. En effet, la cocaïne figure parmi les stimulants majeurs interdits en compétition. Le joueur français, qui nie toute prise volontaire, n'a pas souhaité réagir à l'information, mais devrait très vite effectuer des analyses capillaires afin de démontrer qu'il n'est pas consommateur régulier. Enfin, le TEAM Lagardère devrait communiquer très vite à ce sujet, probablement demain en milieu de l'après-midi.


Traces of cocaine were found in Richard Gasquet's urine sample and he had(?) to forfeit the tournament. The trace level was 1.46 micrograms far above the sensitivity threshold of 0.5 used by accredited laboratories. If this is confirmed Gasquet faces a two year ban. Gasquet denies the charges and has offered to provide a hair sample to show that he is not a regular user of the drug. Team Lagardere is expected to make a statement tomorrow afternoon.

Update 2: Savannah commented below that Gasquet's B sample confirmed the results of the A sample. Our own rabbit posted this on Talk About Tennis:

my most favourite atp player after federer... why why why? i mainly only watch these 2 & now 1 less? oh my how boring tennis will be for me fr now onwards. praying hard that the ITF hearing turns out well for gasquet.
he maintains innocence... i believe him... but i wonder why his hands starting to sweat so much that he has to change his racquet straps so often....

If he's willing to provide a hair sample, there is hope kazuo. I don't know much about drug testing, but hair samples hold the drug long term, correct? Do they show recent use?

SGHIceman....thank you for the correction buddy......

Rafterfan.....re: hair sample...there was a recent case in UK where a 9 year old girl went missing....she was found some 24 days later. A hair sample was taken, which showed that her mother had been giving her valium and other soporific drugs for up to 2 years....This was confirmed by a hair sample. So on this basis, I would imagine that any samples given by Gasquet will show whether and in what quantity he has been taking the drug, and for how long.

Personally? I am gutted. I was hoping against hope that the B sample would turn out to be negative. He is a brilliant tennis player and as a previous poster said, taking this would do nothing for enhancing his performance. What a waste! Still......if he is banned for 2 years....just heard on car radio....he has been suspended for two years..'pending an appeal'....then is that his tennis career over do you think?

hypocritical society..... all is public ralations and shine well against the world the but real deal is another is undercover...how hipocrite is our society????

omardenia...I don't understand your post? Just watching sky sports....Peter Fleming has said he does NOT believe that Gasquet is guilty. He has said that he knows of hundreds of cases whereby the lab technicians have 'messed up' and that we should all wait and see what Gasquet has to say. Apparently, he is putting a defence in which says will clear him. Heres hoping. I love the guy.

There are circumstances and reasons that can produce a false positive result. Certain prescribed drugs can do that, depending on what drug you are testing. Only Gasquet knows what he is taking (prescribed or OTC), but he is right to appeal. A urine sample is useless to perform now because Gasquet KNOWS of a potential test and urine only shows cocaine usage for a relatively short period of time (3 days)compared to hair samples.

The latest on Gasquet guys......

PARIS (AP) ? French tennis player Richard Gasquet has acknowledged he's been told he tested positive for cocaine but says he's innocent.

"I am gathering together proof of my innocence and I will choose an appropriate moment to express myself," Gasquet said in a statement Sunday.

Gasquet said the "B" sample from the tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., confirmed the result of the "A" sample taken the same day.

guess we'll just have to wait and see....