Evans deserves long ban, claims Andy

ANDY MURRAY failed last night to offer any sympathy for his wayward Davis Cup team-mate Dan Evans, saying that he has only himself to blame after testing positive for cocaine. World No 1 Murray, 30, known for his strong views on drugs issues, believes there are no excuses for whatever led the 27-year-old Midlander to be found with the substance in his system during April’s Barcelona Open. ‘He has let himself down and all of the people who helped him,’ said Murray, whom Evans rang the night before the announcement to warn him what was coming. ‘I’m sure his team and family will be extremely disappointed with what he’s done. I have spent a reasonable amount of time with Dan over the last couple of years. He put himself in a position to do really well for the last few years of his career and he has blown that now. It will be interesting to see what he does, if he even wants to come back. ‘It’s going to be a long road back if he wants to do it. He’s made poor decisions before and made another really bad one there. ‘The rules are very clear. He broke those rules and deserves his suspension.’ British No 4 Aljaz Bedene was more sympathetic to Evans, who has been a vocal critic of the Slovenian-born 27-year-old’s switch to representing Britain. Speaking after his five-set win over Ivo Karlovic, Bedene said: ‘I hope the best will come out of it for Dan. I hope he finds help and hopefully he comes back.’ Evans could get as much as a four-year ban, although that would seem unlikely. He has gone abroad during Wimbledon after assembling a team to represent him at an International Tennis Federation hearing later in the summer.