Rusedski Admits Testing Positive for Banned Drug

The admission of British tennis star and 1997 U.S. Open finalist Greg Rusedski that he tested positive for the banned steroid nandrolone has shaken the sport on the eve of the Australian Open.

Rusedski, 30, could face a two-year ban, effectively ending his career. He will have a hearing regarding the case on Feb. 9 in Montreal.

He said in his initial statement to British media outlets on Thursday, declaring his innocence, that it was a “very complex situation.” Later, he appeared on television in Australia to make his case.

“I am innocent. I wish to make it clear that I do not and have never taken any performance-enhancing drugs whatsoever or any drugs of any kind,” said Rusedski, who lost to Cyril Saulnier, 6-2, 6-2, at the AAPT Championships in Adelaide, Australia.

“I expect to be found completely innocent of all charges. I just want to continue to enjoy my tennis and play my tennis in Australia. That’s why I’ve decided to come down here and play. Because I know I am innocent.”

Rusedski is the highest-profile tennis player to test positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Petr Korda, who won the Australian Open in 1998, tested positive for nandrolone later that year at Wimbledon, receiving a one-year suspension.

-- Lisa Dillman

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Patrick Rafter returned to the ATP Tour after an absence of more than two years, losing in doubles at the AAPT Championships.

Rafter, a former No. 1 player and twice a U.S. Open champion, teamed with Josh Eagle in a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to Vincent Spadea and Mark Merkein in the first round.

Rafter last played on the ATP Tour in November 2001 and quit the circuit after Australia’s loss to France in the Davis Cup final the next month.

In singles, Todd Reid, a wild-card entry who upset top-seeded Wayne Ferreira in the first round, defeated Raemon Sluiter, 6-3, 6-2, to reach the quarterfinals.

Reid, a 19-year-old Australian, will face sixth-seeded Jarkko Nieminen, who beat Davide Sanguinetti, 7-6 (2), 6-4.

Ivan Ljubicic upset fourth-seeded Sebastien Grosjean, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, to advance to the semifinals of the Qatar Open at Doha.

Ljubicic will play seventh-seeded Tim Henman, who beat Sargis Sargsian, 6-3, 6-1.

Eighth-seeded Agustin Calleri and wild-card entry Nicolas Escude will play in the other semifinal.

Calleri beat Jonas Bjorkman, 6-4, 6-4. Escude beat Hyung-taik Lee, 6-4, 6-2.

Top-seeded Carlos Moya defeated Paul Goldstein, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, to reach the quarterfinals of the Tata Open at Madras, India.

Moya will face Thierry Ascione, who beat Prakash Amritraj, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Defending champion Nathalie Dechy defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova, 7-6 (5), 6-4, to reach the semifinals of the Australian women’s hardcourt championships at Gold Coast.

Dechy will face second-seeded Nadia Petrova, who advanced with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over Dinara Safina, the younger sister of Marat Safin.

Top-seeded Ai Sugiyama defeated Magdalena Maleeva, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3. Sugiyama will face Samantha Stosur, who beat seventh-seeded Magui Serna, 7-6 (1), 7-5.

Miscellany

At least 100 racers in the Paris-Dakar Rally were stopped at Atar on Mauritania’s border by armed guards demanding $64 to pass.

Customs officials had earlier imposed the passage fee, and even though rally organizers overturned the order, it appeared word did not reach security forces at the border, a race spokesman told Associated Press.

Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide could make his 4-year-old debut Saturday at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Fla.

Funny Cide was entered in a $46,000, seven-furlong allowance/optional claiming race. Funny Cide would race under allowance conditions in the field of seven horses.

Former outfielder Otis Nixon, who played for the Dodgers and eight other teams, was charged with aggravated assault after being accused of pulling a knife on his bodyguard at a motel in Norcross, Ga., police said.

Gwinnett County Police responded to a report about a fight at the motel early Thursday morning and were told that Nixon, 44, had argued with Kevin Brown and threatened to “cut your heart out,” police Cpl. Dan Huggins said.

Nixon was taken to the Gwinnett County Jail and later released on $3,350 bond.

T.J. Simers is on vacation.