Petr Korda has avoided suspension after winning a court case against the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in London.

The ITF yesterday lost their appeal against their own appeals committee's decision not to ban him after he tested positive for the steroid nandrolone at Wimbledon last year.

Korda was stripped of his prize money and ranking points but not banned because of "exceptional circumstances."

Following an outcry from other players, the ITF attempted to reverse their decision. But the High Court in London ruled they were not entitled to go to the Court of Arbitration of Sport to try to enforce a one-year ban on the player.

Korda's lawyers successfully argued that the ITF, under its own anti-doping programme, had no right in law to appeal against the decision, which was "final and binding" on both sides.

The ITF claimed that any such decision was only final if not appealed and that, under its rules, the ITF or any player had an "unfettered right" to reopen and re-argue any decision.