marți, 26 aprilie 2016

Nadal sues French former minister who accused him of doping

Spanish Rafael Nadal in Paris has presented a complaint for defamation against French former Minister of Health and Sports Roselyne Bachelot he said after the player had faked an injury to hide a positive drug control.


"I brought (...) a complaint for defamation against Mrs. Roselyne Bachelot" in order to defend "my integrity and image as a sportsman" and "the values ​​that have defended throughout my career, says Nadal Monday in a statement.

"We also want to avoid behaviors in that, any public person can throw scurrilous accusations in a media against an athlete, unsubstantiated or data that can prove it unpunished," insisted the flamboyant winner of the tournament in Barcelona on Sunday.

Following the announcement last March the positive of Maria Sharapova, Roselyne Bachelot, French Sports Minister between 2007 and 2010, Nadal accused of faking a knee injury in 2012 to cover up a positive drug control.



"We know that the famous Rafael Nadal injury that led to seven months without racing is certainly due to a positive control," Bachelot said.

The accusations were not well received by the Spanish sport nor tennis coach, his uncle Toni Nadal, who did not hesitate to call "fool" the former minister.

The player himself announced last March 14 its intention to sue the French former minister, during his participation in the American tournament in Indian Wells.

"The report you, and denounce anyone who makes similar comments in the future, because I'm tired of this," then said the winner of 14 Grand Slams.

- 'Trust in justice' -

It is not the first time Nadal and the Spanish sport is target of more or less veiled accusations of doping in France.

Already in 2012, taking advantage of the doping ban cyclist Alberto Contador, the humorous television show of puppets, he showed a fictional Nadal stops at a gas station to refuel but instead, a bottle of water and urine drinking in the deposit, putting the car at full speed.

Also the Spanish basketball player Pau Gasol had been targeted after the daily Le Monde will relate to a defendant in the case Festina doping in cycling, just after Spain won the 2015 Eurobasket doctor.

Nadal, meanwhile, announced that if the judge gives the reason, will donate the amount of compensation sought "to an NGO or Foundation in France."

Nadal calls for "maximum respect for the legal proceedings initiated" and it's "utmost confidence in French justice".

The Spanish tennis player, who had not won a major title since Roland Garros in 2014, it seems this season, where he has already won the 1000 Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona tournament before facing next week's Madrid Masters have refound.

Contacted by AFP on Monday following the announcement of the complaint, the ex-minister declined to comment.

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