Fri Jan 4 09:10:28 2008

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Hingis suspended by ITF

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London, England (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 star Martina Hingis was suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation because of a positive test for cocaine at Wimbledon last year.

Hingis announced her retirement from the sport last November 1, the same day she revealed the positive test and denied the accusations.

The ITF, however, said an independent anti-doping tribunal found that a sample provided by Hingis on June 29, 2007 tested positive for cocaine. The tribunal rejected the suggestion made on behalf of Hingis that there were doubts about the identity or integrity of the sample.

Hingis angrily denied that she used cocaine in her November press conference, saying, "I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to confront it head-on by talking to the press.

"I am frustrated and angry. I believe that I am absolutely, one hundred percent innocent."

The suspension is back-dated to October 1, 2007, and Hingis has three weeks to make an appeal.

In addition, the ITF has disqualified Hingis' results from Wimbledon and the other events she played afterward. She must also repay the prize money from those events, a sum of $129,481.

Hingis last played at the end of September in Beijing. She announced at the time that she was going to take time off to recover from hip problems.

November's announcement marked Hingis' second retirement. She stepped aside for the first time in 2002 due to injuries to her feet, left knee and left hip, but returned full-time in 2006.

The "Swiss Miss" had a 24-13 record in 2007 and was ranked 19th in the world at the time of her November retirement. After her return in 2006, Hingis won three tournaments, including one last season, to increase her career total to 43.

Her best finish in the Grand Slams last year was a quarterfinal berth at the Australian Open. She did not play at the French Open and only advanced to the third round in both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

Hingis won five career Grand Slam titles, capturing the Australian Open three straight years starting in 1997, when she also won her only Wimbledon and U.S. Open titles. She never won the French, advancing as far as the final twice.