Kuznetsova hits back at drugs slur

Svetlana Kuznetsova today said she was “offended” by “appalling allegations” that she has tested positive for ephedrine.

But the US Open champion admitted she had been taking a cold remedy which could have caused the positive test at an exhibition in Belgium last month.

Belgian sports minister Claude Eerdekens claimed the Russian tested positive for a stimulant in Charleroi on December 19.

The governing body of women’s tennis, the WTA, are furious that news of the positive test leaked out to the media – initially implicating either Kuznetsova, Elena Dementieva or Nathalie Dechy – apparently before the B sample could be tested or the player and relevant authorities notified.

However, Kuznetsova seems certain to escape any sanction even if the results of the test are confirmed, with ephedrine not a banned substance under the tennis anti-doping programme when it is used out of competition.

“I pride myself on being a clean athlete of the highest integrity and am offended by these disgraceful accusations,” a statement issued on Kuznetsova’s behalf read.

“I was tested over 10 times under the extremely rigorous tennis anti-doping programme in 2004 alone and have never tested positive in my career.

“There is absolutely no reason why I would take a stimulant to enhance my performance at an out-of-competition exhibition match in the middle of the off-season.

“What is true is that at the time of the exhibition match in question, I did have a cold and was taking a cold medicine.

“I find it appalling that while there are numerous press reports containing allegations from a regional Belgian sports minister, nobody from the Belgian authorities has even contacted me as of today.

“I am sure of my innocence and I will not allow these irresponsible accusations, which do not comply with credible anti-doping procedures, to distract me or my performance at the Australian Open.”

Larry Scott, chief executive of the WTA Tour, had earlier issued a scathing attack on Eerdekens for releasing the information.

“In all my years in sports, I have never seen a more disgraceful and irresponsible act by a sports official,” Scott said.

“This is an egregious breach of ethical standards of confidentiality and due process which govern anti-doping programmes, and has unnecessarily tainted our sport and three wonderful athletes.

“The Belgian authorities have not complied with credible anti-doping procedures, which require the presumption of innocence and the strictest confidentiality.

“The regional Belgian sports minister who has made public comments on the matter has said himself that the named player must be presumed innocent and that the alleged substance could have been a cold medicine taken during an out-of-competition exhibition event in the middle of the off-season.

“It is important to note that under the WADA code, the alleged substance is not even prohibited unless it is found in competition.

“To date, neither the WTA Tour, the named players, the ITF, Tennis Australia nor the Russian Tennis Federation has been contacted by the Belgian authorities, and the WTA’s own inquiries to the Belgian authorities have gone unanswered.

“The WTA Tour, through the extremely rigorous tennis anti-doping programme modelled on the WADA code, is committed to ensuring the integrity of women’s professional tennis.

“For this reason we are both outraged by the irresponsible nature of the accusations and committed to ensuring that due process and proper procedures are followed.”

Ephedrine – which makes the heart beat faster and increases blood pressure, allowing athletes to avoid fatigue – can be found in many over-the-counter cold remedies and supplements.

The World Anti-Doping Agency include it on their prohibited list but classify it as one of their ’specified substances’ which ’are particularly susceptible to unintentional anti-doping rule violations.’

As it can be taken unintentionally quite easily, WADA recommend a warning and reprimand but not necessarily a ban for a first offence.