Canas’ Ban Keeps Him Out of Site

Maria Emilia Salerni did not think it was fair that her boyfriend, banned Argentine tennis star Guillermo Canas, has been prevented from being on the grounds at the National Tennis Center at the U.S. Open.

Though Canas, serving a two-year suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), he was denied accreditation or the ability to buy a ticket. “It is part of the anti-doping program that he is not allowed on site for an ATP or Grand Slam event,” said an ATP spokesperson on Wednesday.

Salerni, 22, spoke to reporters after losing, 6-1, 6-0, in the second round to Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia. “It is sad because he’s 20 minutes away, waiting for me at the hotel, following my match by the Internet,” she said.

Canas tested positive for the diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) at a tournament in Acapulco in February. The penalty was announced in August, and he became the fourth Argentine to receive a ban for a positive drug test since 2001.

A Spanish reporter said that players Carlos Moya and Rafael Nadal pleaded Canas’ case for accreditation. Salerni said that Canas was not practicing much but focusing on physical training after being “very sad” about the suspension.

“He’s like a gladiator,” she said. “He’s fighting [this] for sure.”

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-- Lisa Dillman