French tennis player Richard Gasquet said in his latest interview with news daily L’Equipe that he’ll do whatever he can to clear his name from the controversy he’s gotten himself involved in, maintaining that he has never taken cocaine at all.
“I have never, ever, ever taken cocaine in my life. I understand the suspicion but I will repeat as many times as is necessary: I have never taken this stuff,” the Frenchman was quoted as saying.
“On the circuit, no-one takes it. When I have to take an aspirin, I call the doctor 10 times to be sure I can,” he added.
It’s been reported that the urine samples Gasquet provided prior to the tournament in Miami Masters last match came out positive for cocaine. As a result, the Frenchman has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
“I would like to be on court and not with the lawyers, but there is no choice. It will take as long as it has to, I will fight until the end,” he said.
Gasquet, a former Wimbledon semifinalist, achieved a career high ranking of number 7 two years ago. He has since relinquished the post as France’s number one tennis pro to Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gael Monfils.
