Hit will be a miss 

11 May 2009 | by Monticelli

richard gasquetRichard Gasquet has been provisionally banned by the men's ATP Tour for testing positive for cocaine. His suspension, prior to a tribunal hearing, means that he will not be competing at Eastbourne's 2009 AEGON International.

After the French ace tested positive during March's Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, the shock result was then confirmed by a B sample. The resultant penalty is likely to mean that the 22-year-old is hit with an automatic suspension of two years from the ATP Tour.

But the grass court expert is innocent until proved guilty and will appear before an anti-doping tribunal within the next 60 days, expected to be around early July.

This is not the first time that the tennis prodigy has been cloaked in controversy. Back in 2007, Gasquet dealt with a volley of questions over his sexuality after French magazine Le Point reported on a rumour that he was having an affair with 46-year-old married businessman.

richard gasquetThe beau in question was Arnaud Lagardere, whose sports research company sponsors professional tennis players. And Lagardere denied that there was even an element of truth in the report. 

Whereas Gasquet simply sliced through these rumours by fuming: "This question has come back hundreds of times, and every time someone turns up saying, 'I have evidence' - it is just bulls**t. Neither him nor me are homosexuals, it's absolutely obvious."

And with Gasquet sudden fall from grace in the public's eye, few will recall that he has so far failed to live up to all the hype. Even the 2009 ATP Tour media handbook veers towards his off court antics: "In February 2008 launched The Richard Gasquet Foundation, which aims to help adolescents who struggle to find their place in society and who suffer from a lack of confidence."

Surely the Frenchman did not resort to cocaine to give him a lift at Miami's Sony Ericsson Open. Gasquet failed to compete in the event, having been seeded high enough to earn a first round bye before a shoulder injury forced him out of the tournament. And the French ace explained that a 7th May test on his hair proved that he was not a habitual cocaine user.

An instant statement from Gasquet concerning the drug test failure result read: "Considering the complexity of this matter, I am currently putting together proof of my innocence and will set a date at the appropriate time to explain myself."

richard gasquetBut a two year ban could spell the start of the end of Gasquet's tennis career, who was the world's top junior player in 2002 and shown his versatility by winning a title on all four surfaces. Yet it is at grand slam events that he needs to establish himself if he is going to ever bounce back into the world's top 10.

Gasquet has had a torrid time in recent grand slam, notably the 2008 defeats he suffered at the French Open and Wimbledon. 

His shock straight set defeat to Kristof Vliegen at Roland Garros saw him explode: "It's obvious everyone expected too much from me, and that I wanted to do too well. It was a nightmare, a pretty grotesque match. I've never felt so alone as today on the court."

But even without home support Gasquet choked, allowing battling Brit Andy Murray to escape from the jaws of defeat at the Championships. On SW19's Centre Court, Gasquet was serving for the match at 5-4, but fluffed his chance and allowed the popular Murray to progress to the next round in five sets.

But Gasquet, who took up the sport aged four, now finds himself under the media spotlight more than ever with his obituary from the ATP Tour being prepared. There are bound to be references to the fact that he always plays with his baseball cap backwards - probably a form of a security blanket - and that he does not seem to want to ever grow up.

richard gasquetWhether these allegations over cocaine are the first nail in the coffin or something more innocent, the Devonshire Park fans are the ones who are likely to miss out this year because of Gasquet's provisional ban by the ATP Tour. 

And being such a natural showman with the ability to produce sublime shots out of nothing, it is unlikely that Gasquet would stop plying his trade in the sport. The next two months are going to be a nightmare for the French ace, who has to watch from the sidelines and ultimately slip down the world rankings before he gets an opportunity to protest his innocence. Let's hope that it is not game, set and match to the anti-doping tribunal.

Considering the complexity of this matter, I am currently putting together proof of my innocence.

- Richard Gasquet