Britain’s Evans suspended after testing positive for cocaine use
>> LONDON: British world No.50 Dan Evans has been provisionally suspended after testing positive for cocaine.
Evans, 27, provided a positive sample when he was tested during the Barcelona Open in April and the International Tennis Federation announced on Friday he will be banned with effect from June 26 “pending determination of the case”.
“This is a very difficult day for me and I wanted to come here in person to tell you guys face to face,” Evans said at a London Hotel on Friday where he took no questions but made a statement.
“I was notified a few days ago that I failed a drugs test in April where I tested positive for cocaine.
“It’s really important you know this was taken out of competition and the context was completely unrelated to tennis.
“I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I do not condone for one second to anyone that this was acceptable behaviour.
“I’ve let a lot of people down — my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and my fans.
“I can only deeply apologise from the bottom of my heart. This has been an extremely sad and humbling experience.”
Martina Hingis tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon in 2007 and was subsequently suspended for two years.