Gasquet cleared of cocaine allegations

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- International officials on Thursday upheld the appeal of tennis player Richard Gasquet against a two-year ban from competition because of alleged cocaine use.

Gasquet tested positive for cocaine after withdrawing from a tournament last March. He claimed he inadvertently took the drug when he kissed a woman at a Miami nightclub.

The World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Tennis Federation, because of the positive test, barred Gasquet from competition for two years. Gasquet appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which supported his claim.

"It was impossible for the player, even when exercising the utmost caution, to know that in kissing a woman who he had met in a totally unsuspicious environment, he could be contaminated with cocaine," the CAS said in a statement.

The CAS said the amount of cocaine detected was minute and he was "clearly not a regular cocaine user."

Gasquet, ranked No. 52 in the world, served a 2 1/2-month suspension this past season before an ITF tribunal cleared him to resume playing in July.

"I am happy to be 100 percent cleared," Gasquet told the French TV channel Canal Plus late Thursday. "Mentally, it was very tough (but) I'm happy to be back on the tennis courts."