Tennis dad drugged rivals

A FATHER who drugged his children’s tennis opponents, leading to a player’s death, was sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted yesterday.

Christophe Fauviau had confessed to the crime during his trial in Mont-de-Marsan in southwestern France.

The former military pilot was accused of spiking water bottles of his children’s opponents 27 times in tournaments across France from 2000 to 2003, using anti-anxiety drug Temesta, which can cause drowsiness.

Serge Mackowiack, prosecuting, described Fauviau as “an adult who turned his children into objects of his own fantasies of success”.

“Nothing stopped you: players collapsing on the court, the sight of gurneys (stretchers), a young woman who collapses against a fence. Nothing stopped you,” Mackowiack said.

Fauviau’s 16-year-old daughter, Valentine, is a rising star in French tennis.

In tearful earlier testimony, Fauviau asked the parents of the victim, 25-year-old Alexandre Lagardere, for forgiveness.

“It’s something that completely took me over ... I never wanted things to come out like this,” he said.

Opponents of Fauviau’s daughter and son, Maxime, complained to investigators of weakness, dizziness, nausea or fainting. Several were hospitalised.

In July 2003, Maxime Fauviau defeated Lagardere, who complained of fatigue. While driving home, Lagardere crashed his car and died, and police believe he fell asleep at the wheel. Tests showed traces of Temesta in his system.

Fauviau was in custody since his 2003 arrest.