Rafael Nadal is considering taking legal action against a French official who accused him of failing a drug test.
Former French secretary of sport Roselyne Bachelot told French TV show “Le Grand 8” this week that Nadal’s 7-month layoff from tennis in 2012 was due to a positive drug test.
Nadal always said he missed multiple tournaments because of his knee, but Bachelot said the time off was “without any doubt because he tested positive.”
Bachelot made her claims in the wake of Maria Sharapova announcing Monday her positive drug test at the Australian Open earlier this year. In response to Bachelot, Rafa’s uncle and coach, Toni, says the 14-time grand slam champion is considering legal action.
“Rafa’s lawyer is working to take all possible measures and with maximum force. In this world, instead of proving the guilt of a person, you have to prove your innocence,” Toni Nadal was quoted as saying via Omni Sport.
“This woman is a fool. Rafa goes through many [doping] controls every year even though he has done nothing and will do nothing wrong. He believes in a clean sport.”
The Spanish Olympic Committee defended Nadal in a statement, saying Rafa “has been submitted to innumerable anti-doping controls that he has always passed throughout his long career.”
He has never failed a drug test. Now, if you want to talk with Uncle Toni about other forms of cheating, then we should probably start with this.
