World No50 Dan Evans has revealed that he has tested positive for cocaine.
The British tennis player failed a drugs test he took in April, a month after he reached a career-high ranking of 41.
“This is a very difficult day for me and I wanted to come here in persona and tell you face to face I was notified a few days ago that I failed a drugs test in April, where I tested positive for cocaine,” Evans told reporters at the Novotel hotel near Queen’s Club.
“It is really important that you know this was taken out of competition and the context completely unrelated to tennis. I made a mistake and I must face up to it. I do not condone for one second to anyone that this was acceptable behaviour. I have let a lot of people down – my family, my coach, my team, sponsors, British tennis and my fans. I can only deeply apologise from the bottom of my heart.
“It is a sad and humbling experience. I hope you understand I will not be taking any questions and I thank you for your support of my career to date.”
An ITF statement said Evans’ positive test occurred at the Barcelona Open and the player was charged on June 16 with an anti-doping violation.
The statement added: “As positive tests for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension, Mr Evans will be provisionally suspended with effect from 26 June, under Article 8.3.1(c) of the 2017 TADP, pending determination of the case.”
Five-time Grand Slam singles champion Martina Hingis was banned from the sport for two years in 2007 after she also tested positive for cocaine. She decided to retire from tennis for a second time when she made the announcement of her positive test before returning once again as a doubles player.
Frenchman Richard Gasquet, meanwhile, had been issued with the same suspension in 2009 but it was reduced to just over two months when the ITF’s tribunal panel ruled he had taken the substance inadvertently. Gasquet had claimed the substance was only in his system due to him kissing a woman who had taken cocaine at a nightclub.
LTA performance director Simon Timson said: “We are very disappointed at the news that Dan Evans has tested positive for a recreational substance. We absolutely condemn any form of drug-taking and will support the process which needs to take place.
“We are in touch with Dan and we will offer appropriate guidance, support and education to him on how best to address the issues he now faces.”
Evans started this season by reaching the final in Sydney and making the fourth round at the Australian Open.
He is Britain’s third-highest-ranked player behind Andy Murray and Kyle Edmund.
