Former French Open finalist and world nine Mariano Puerta has admitted to lying to the Court of Arbitration for Sport about his reason for failing a drugs test to avoid a longer suspension, 15 years after being handed the initial suspension.
Puerta was handed an eight-year suspension in December 2005 after testing positive for etilefrine following his run to the final at Roland Garros earlier that season. It was at the time the lengthiest suspension ever handed to a tennis player, following the Argentine’s nine-month ban two years prior after a positive test for clenbuterol.
The Argentine claimed at the time that his second positive test was due to drinking from the same glass as his wife, who was on medication for menstrual cramps that contained etilefrine. However, in an interview with La Nacion in Argentina, Puerta claimed that the real reason for his positive test was due to caffeine pills prepared by a friend of his fitness coach.
“I did not take any sporting advantage. I don’t want to be seen as a deceiver,” claimed Puerta in the interview. He further alleged that he was persuaded to provide the false story by his legal team, who allegedly claimed that the real reason for his positive test would not lead to a reduction in his suspension. Puerta’s suspension was later reduced to just two years.
Puerta’s career high of ninth came a few weeks following what proved to be the last final of his career at the French Open, where the unseeded Argentine lost in four sets to Rafael Nadal. Puerta reached ten tour finals overall, winning three titles, and retired in 2009.