French federation aware of Gasquet failed test

By Julien Pretot

PARIS (Reuters) - The French tennis federation (FFT) is aware of a failed drugs test by Richard Gasquet but is awaiting official confirmation, the FFT said on Sunday.

"The FFT has learnt of the positive test of Richard Gasquet at the Miami tournament, although no official notification has been made," the FFT said in a statement.

French sports daily L'Equipe reported on Saturday that world number 23 Gasquet had failed a drugs test for cocaine at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, which finished last month.

The 22-year-old Gasquet could face a two-year suspension from the sport.

"This piece of information, that is very surprising (...) would be, if confirmed according to official proceedings, a very sad one for Richard Gasquet himself, for tennis in general and for French tennis in particular," the statement read.

"As for now, the FFT does not wish to make further comments because it is up to the anti-doping authorities, within the International Tennis Federation (ITF), to assess such a case."

An ITF spokesperson said on Sunday: "We cannot confirm, deny or comment on this due to our confidentiality rules."

"I hope it's not true," Swiss world number two Roger Federer said at a news conference on Sunday ahead of the Madrid Open.

"But of course I think we should wait until Richard himself has said something. As long as he hasn't come out and said anything about it it's hard to give an opinion."

Gasquet, who was regarded as the top French prospect when he started his professional career in 2002, has failed to live up to expectations.

He ended his debut season as the youngest player to finish in the Top 200 after also becoming the youngest to qualify for an ATP Masters at Monte Carlo.

Gasquet has always been scrutinised by French media and was on the cover of Tennis Magazine at the age of nine.

In February 2008, he launched the Richard Gasquet Foundation, which helps adolescents struggling to find their place in society and suffering from a lack of confidence.

(Additional reporting by Pritha Sarkar in London and Iain Rogers in Madrid)

(Editing by Alison Wildey; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)