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Former world number one Martina Hingis said on Friday she had
tested positive for cocaine during Wimbledon this year and
announced her retirement from professional tennis.
"I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100
percent innocent," the five-times grand slam champion from
Switzerland told a news conference.
Fighting back tears and with her voice cracking, Hingis read from a
written statement before leaving the room without answering
questions.
In an expanded version of the statement later released by her
management, the 27-year-old said she found the accusation of
drug-taking "so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to
confront it head-on by talking to the press."
The statement added: "I would personally be terrified of taking
drugs. When I was informed (about the test) I was shocked and
appalled."
Hingis added that she had undergone a private test that came back
negative and consulted an attorney.
"The attorney and his experts discovered various inconsistencies
with the urine sample that was taken during Wimbledon.
"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the
process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was
tested for cocaine actually came from me."
Hingis said she had also been advised that any fight to clear her
name could drag on for years.
"I have no desire to spend the next several years of my life
reduced to fighting against the doping officials," she said. "I am
frustrated and angry.
"I believe that I am absolutely, 100 percent innocent. The fact is
that it is more and more difficult for me, physically, to keep
playing at the top of the game.
"And frankly, accusations such as these don't exactly provide me
with motivation to even make another attempt to do so."
She added: "And so, considering this situation, my age and the
problems I have been having with my hip, I have decided to no
longer play tennis on the Tour."
After rising to the top of her sport with a much-admired blend of
grace and tactical astuteness, Hingis suffered a string of injuries
that forced her to first hang up her racket in 2003.
Surprise return
She made a surprise return to the courts in 2006, proving her
doubters wrong as she went on to win two more titles and end the
year as world number seven.
A further, final, title followed in Tokyo this year before her
injury problems returned.
In October, Hingis announced an early end to her season, citing hip
problems.
Friday's media conference was widely expected to see the former
world number one announcing her retirement -- but not in the
circumstances now set out.
The WTA Tour released a brief statement from chief executive
officer Larry Scott on Friday, mainly paying tribute to Hingis's
achievements on the court.
"The WTA Tour has not received any official information regarding
the positive doping test result referred to, and as a result we are
not in a position to comment," Scott began before going on to
praise the player's "incredible touch, on-court intelligence and
off-court professionalism."
Switzerland's national tennis association also highlighted Hingis's
attributes as a player.
"Martina Hingis was a great player who was always a role model and
a figurehead for Swiss tennis," association president Rene
Stammbach said in a statement.
"We regret very much that Martina is ending her career faced with
these recriminations."
