French tennis player Richard Gasquet, known to our readers for his declaration that he is not gay, faces a two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine. Gasquest says he’s innocent and will fight the charge.
Two urine samples given by Gasquet turned up positive for cocaine, though he said no traces were found on a hair sample he gave to an independent lab. If this line of defense fails, the London Independent says, he could argue that since he did not play in the event where the test was taken, it was an “out-of-competition” result and he could escape the harsh two-year ban in favor of one of three months.
“I know his lifestyle and this surprises me enormously as it’s not like him. I had him on the phone, he is sad and really shocked,” French tennis player Fabrice Santoro told Europe 1 radio station on Sunday.
Michael Llodra, his Davis Cup doubles partner, said Gasquet would have to accept the consequences if he did take cocaine. “Cocaine is not a doping product but it is still a banned substance. So, if it is confirmed, he will have to live with that and explain himself,” Llodra said.
Two years ago, Gaquet denied he was having an affair with a French businessman, saying, “I was absolutely not happy about that. This question has come back hundreds of times, and every time someone turns up saying, ‘Oh, I have evidence.’ It is just bullshit. Neither him nor me are homosexuals. It’s absolutely obvious.”
on May 11th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Of course he’s not gay. Gay men do crystal meth, not cocaine.
on May 11th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Now this story just sounds catty. I find that we gays seem too worried about who else may be gay. Now granted I have been guilty of wondering myself but it seems like thats been the big thing about celebrities and athletes for awhile now. Who is gay and who isn’t? At the end of the day, who cares? And he certainly wasn’t known to this Outsports reader for his declaration of heterosexuality.
on May 11th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
“And he certainly wasn’t known to this Outsports reader for his declaration of heterosexuality.”
Are you kidding? That’s the main thing he was known for. And he made public declarations twice about how he was not gay. It certainly was a story that a lot of people were interested in. And what’s so catty about reporting the truth that he tested positive over the weekend for cocaine use?
on May 11th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Whats so catty about it? Because your headline begins with “Not-gay Gasquet…” perhaps. What does that have to do with him getting busted for coke? I mean for me I am excluded I suppose because I follow tennis so I knew about Gasquet long before this gay foolishness came up.
on May 11th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Now, coming out might actually save his career!
on May 12th, 2009 at 11:31 pm
Thank you, OutSports staff all, for keeping track (as in writing down some journalistic history) of the LGBT Community’s friends as well as the not-so-friendly others.
You are fulfilling, in fresh & innovative approaches, the highest goals of the new News Industry, the Fourth & Fifth Estates’ convergence.