Players profess disbelief at Rusedski drug shock

News of Greg Rusedski’s positive drugs test has left many of his fellow tennis professionals shocked and surprised.

American James Blake and Spanish veteran Alex Corretja both expressed their hope that the news proved a big mistake, with neither able to understand why Rusedski might want to deliberately use nandrolone.

The British number two revealed yesterday he had tested positive after a tournament in Indianapolis in July, but maintained he had never deliberately taken a performance-enhancing substance.

“I hope it is just a mistake and he’s back on tour and he’s okay. He adds something to the game, he has that huge lefty serve. I hope he did not do anything on purpose,” said Blake.

“You have to be careful putting things in your body when your body is your profession and I don’t want to say too much because I don’t know the details.”

Blake also said he hoped drug use had not widely infected the sport.

“It is too bad unfortunately. Drugs are coming into just about every sport and the more money involved I guess the more people are interested in circumventing the rules.

“There has been a few positive tests and otherwise it is just rumour and hearsay.

“I am a pretty big optimist and try to think everyone is playing by the rules - I think it is ridiculous to put your health second when you are trying to just make more money or get ranked a few points higher.

“I want to have a life after tennis, I want to have kids and still be walking when I am 60 and people forget there is life after tennis and these drugs are going to have side effects.”

Corretja, playing in New Zealand, does not believe Rusedski would need to take any performance-enhancing substances.

“I know Greg and I think it sounds really strange, because the way he plays I don’t think he needs any supplements because he really plays an aggressive game,” he said.

“I’ve got to give him the benefit of the doubt because I know him and I would be pretty surprised if the guy has taken something.

“The first thing you’ve got to do is talk to him and trust him. It’s not nice being in this situation.

“Rusedski has been on the tour for 12 years, it doesn’t make any sense to hear that he’s taking something.

“It’s different if you’re a guy who needs to run for four hours on the court. I wouldn’t understand, but that would make more sense, but he can hit 40 aces a match.”

American Lindsay Davenport, Blake’s team-mate in the Hopman Cup, believes the tennis authorities are doing everything possible to stop drug use.

“I know I was tested a lot of times, I think the last few years both establishments (WTA and ATP) have made a concerted efforts to test players more frequently in and out of competition,” she said.

“I think they are going about the right way to stop any problems that might be beginning. As long they keep trying to detect, it definitely scares the players away from trying to do anything illegal.”