WADA 'concerned' by Rusedski investigation

Greg Rusedski’s hopes of escaping a ban for his positive drugs test were boosted tonight following comments from an anti-doping expert.

David Howman, director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said he was “concerned and disturbed” about elements of the ATP’s investigation into other positive tests for nandrolone.

Rusedski revealed on Thursday he had tested positive for nandrolone at a tournament in Indianapolis last July.

The British number two has vigorously protested his innocence and claims he has been singled out by the ATP.

His defence centres around the case of Czech player Bohdan Ulihrach who was initially found guilty and banned for two years, but won an appeal when it emerged that ATP trainers had been giving players mineral supplements, electrolytes and other supplements.

They were thought to be the cause of the positive tests and trainers were told to stop supplying such products.

However, Rusedski’s subsequent test has shown the same ‘analytical footprint’ as the other findings and Howman said: “We remain concerned and disturbed.

“We were concerned about it to the degree that we offered to undertake an inquiry into the report they obtained independently and we have been engaged by the ATP to do that, unfortunately all the documentation was not delivered to us until the end of last year and we are now hoping we can conclude it in the next few weeks.

“They didn’t need to engage us and they have, so from that point of view we are encouraged.

“What we are concerned about is if what Mr Rusedski says is correct and the same fingerprint is that which was exhibited before, then perhaps the conclusion that the electrolytes provided by the ATP trainers to the previous responsible people is wrong, and there is something else going on out there. That is of great concern to us.”

Howman added on BBC Radio Five Live: “We remain dissatisfied until we have completed our enquiries but we were not happy with the lack of rigour with which this theory was investigated.

“It may well be that it’s got nothing to do with the ATP trainers and the electrolytes because there is no evidence there to show that. It may be something else that we’re not alerted to. I think the theories remain open.

“There must be some reason for it, whether that’s the ATP trainers as initially suggested, whether it’s something else. We don’t know whether there’s anybody else lurking around the corner providing things to people and we must remain suspicious.”