Comments on: RICHARD GASQUET SUSPENDED FOR COCAINE, MARAT SAFIN BLAMES PARTY FOUL

By: Julia

Julia — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:30:22 +0000

Absolutely outrageous to ban Gasquet for use of recreational drugs which, if anything, only hampers his performance on court. The ATP and ITF need to ban for use of performance enhancing drugs only. This is a first time offence and not even for using performance enhancing drugs, so give a first time warning if they must. The players and tennis fans need to get together and do something and inform these people that they need to stay out of the players lives when not participating at events, and only get involved when they have signed up to play for an event and check (only) for performance drugs. These are young guys, give them a break. They give us such a lot of their time.

Yes, I agree with another comment above when they said, that using alcohol is the same as recreational drugs.

Thank’s to Marat Safin to stand up (as always) and tell it like it is. Maybe he should organize a rally to stand up for what is right. I, for one, would fly to wherever to support.

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:31:31 +0000

It is really sad. The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is. The U.S. military allows for more cocaine in the system than the ITF! It’s too stringent.

By: Eimear

Eimear — Tue, 12 May 2009 09:19:30 +0000

I feel so sad for Gasquet either way- if he’s innocent he must feel absolutely terrible. However, I’ve always seen him as quite awkward and not comfortable in himself, which makes it easier to believe that at a party he might indulge in something stronger than drink to feel relaxed? Bad situation….but it’s nice to see the players being so balanced
think I agree with that Ford man, cocaine is really not used as a performance enhancer…I’m at uni and so many people take it recreationally, it’s ridiculous! 2 yrs seems very harsh from that angle…could you argue the same for getting too drunk or smoking?? It’s not illegal but both are dangerous and deemed recreational? And what about Michael Phelps getting caught doing pot, something he might be quite familiar with before his gold medals?
arghh I just hope the other players are v.careful from now on!!

By: freakyfrites

freakyfrites — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:53:29 +0000

I agree with you both – tennis players have the right to partay! (Gasquet’s going to have to fight for it.)

I do find it interesting that so many players are paranoid about picking up the wrong glass. Is it normal for cocaine to be dissolved into cocktails? Are there evil rivals who seek to sabotage them? This all sounds very cloak and dagger.

Alice – cocaine is not known to be a real performance enhancer because it’s effects are so temporary and followed by a crash in energy. Bonnie D. Ford mentioned in her article that it was popular with cyclists for a while, mixed with other stuff, but isn’t used much anymore. Yet tennis players can be banned for 2 years if there is even a tiny amount in their system (if they are tested while “in competition”) The U.S. military has less stringent standards! It really is too bad.

By: The Tennis Times

The Tennis Times — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:17:17 +0000

I think Marat has the right idea about this. Tennis players are only human, but they have more fame and money than the rest of us. So why cant they go out and party just like we do?

By: Alice Marble

Alice Marble — Tue, 12 May 2009 05:46:54 +0000

What a mess.

I like Marat’s insouciant take on it, tho’ I’m too old to know a lot about cocaine. Back in the day it was wholesome organic drugs like weed, shrooms and acid. I guess what I need to know from the younger and hipper here, would coke enhance performance? This is a recreational drug, not steroids and blood doping and stuff. (BTW, if they’d had testing for rec dope back in the day, I’m not sure Big Bill Tilden, Henri Lacoste and Von Cramm woulda passed.)McEnroe, Conners, Villas, Borg — bwaaaaaah.

Could cocaine enhance on court performance?

Footnote: There’s that great story about a Dodgers pitcher in the early 70s who dropped acid on his day off. Except, of course, it wasn’t his day off. He pitched a perfect game. Wish I could remember his name.