TENNIS: Mariano Puerta, this year's beaten finalist at the French Open, and ranked 10th in the world, faces a life ban if reports he tested positive for the banned stimulant, etilefrine, at Roland Garros in May prove correct. The Argentinian Puerta, who was suspended for nine months in 2003 after failing a dope test for clenbuterol, yesterday denied he had knowingly taken a banned drug.
"I'm really angry, I've started investigations with my lawyers. This is a very delicate subject, there's no truth in it," he said.
Another Argentinian, Guillermo Canas, who reached the semi-finals in Paris, was banned for two years immediately after the French Open, having tested positive for a prohibited diuretic during an ATP tournament in Acapulco in February.
At the time he became the fourth player from his country, including Guillermo Coria (a seven-month ban for nandrolone), the 2004 beaten French Open finalist, Juan Ignacio Chela (three months for a steroid), and Puerta to be found guilty of taking drugs. Canas is pursuing his case with the Court for Arbitration in Sport. Puerta and Canas protest their innocence.
Last year the Austrian skier Rainer Schoenfelder, who won the men's slalom World Cup title, tested positive for etilefrine but blamed the result on a household cold remedy. The Austrian Ski Federation accepted his plea and gave Schoenfelder only a warning. Etilefrine is included on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances and is mainly used to treat hypertension.
SNOOKER: Ronnie O'Sullivan, disappointed by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association announcing only five world-ranking events in comparison with last season's eight, claimed he is "deserting a sinking ship" in opting to juggle his snooker activities with competing on a new 8 Ball Pool circuit in the United States.
The International Pool Tour has been originated by Kevin Trudeau, the founder of Golf Channel UK. Between November and October 2006 it will stage three $1 million (about £567,000) events, a $2 million US Open and a $3 million World Open.
O'Sullivan will play in the BBC's four events, the Grand Prix (starting Saturday), the UK Championship, the Masters and the World Championship. He will "probably" play in the Irish Masters. ... Guardian Service
