posted Nov 2, 2007

In my view recreational drug use should not usually lead to a ban - especially on a first offence. It's different from performance enhancing drugs.

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posted Nov 2, 2007

It is amazing how many posters on this board seem to think taking cocaine is okay....

Maybe it explains why the taking of illegal crugs is such a big problem in this country!

If she has taken cocaine, it is against the law, and the tennis authorities need to take action. Then, it's a matter for the police.

In much the same why that if Davydenko is ever proven to have tanked a match illegally, it is a matter for the tennis authorities, and then the police....

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posted Nov 2, 2007

Were the WTA going to ban her for this? That wasn't mentioned even though the 'out sourced' testers claim that cocaine can enhance performance from a state of Euphoria. I would be inclined to disagree, taking even a small amount would surely take you "out of it".

I'm not sure this positive test would have lead to her suspension/banning since A) it wasn't mentioned and B) Hingis herself made the media aware of the positive test.

I think this issue is probably more to do with wishing to clear her own name from an illegal substance...because at the moment, she has a "black spot" on her character. The retirement is to release the burdens of such a fight.

I read a report that mentioned that a fruit drink could have been "spiked" but I have seen no conclusive or reliable source to back this up.

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posted Nov 2, 2007

Glad to see the back of her. She has always been overrated. She just managed to find a gap as the old guard faded away and the new blood surfaced. The comeback was a waste of time she can’t compete with the top players of today.

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posted Nov 2, 2007

I'm not a Hingis fan nor ever have been. But some very valid points have been made on this thread. The hurt is obvious. Retirement at 27 inevitably leads to stories of "if only".
Sadly, the "if only" in this case starts with her mother's decision to call her Martina in the first place........

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posted Nov 2, 2007

It's a regular occurrence for athletes to officially announce that they've tested positive for a drugs test before the sports body does so. That is an option the authorities usually give the athlete, to give them a chance to present their case first.

If she has indeed tested positive at Wimbledon, as she said, then it's just a matter of time before the WTA make the official annnouncement.

ANd, if anybody cares to look it up, Chlesea goalkeeper Mark Bosnich was banned, and had his contract cancelled because of a similar positive test for cocaine.

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posted Nov 2, 2007

Your title is totally misleading, Martina denies taking coke but informs of a questionable positive test (and of her retirement from the game).
As a person working in industry, I can draw a parallel: Out of 100 environmental emission test results, there is statistically 2 to 3% at least which are flawed for all sorts of reasons, including admistrative error, contamination of sample, sample mix-up, measuring device fault to name a few. In such case a new sample can generally be collected and is tested for confirmation.
In suspected doping, however, the check is done on the same sample which cannot be considered a valid retest.
From the information delivered and the convincing plea of Martina, the obvious verdict is "not guilty".

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