U.S. Open Champ In Drug Flap

U.S. Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova tested positive for the banned stimulant ephedrine during an exhibition tournament last month, a Belgian sports minister said Monday.

The Russian was tested during the Dec. 18-19 Women's Tennis Trophy event in Charleroi, said Claude Eerdekens, a regional sports minister. Kuznetsova's backup sample hasn't been tested; athletes aren't penalized without two positive samples.

"We saw it was ephedrine and we saw it was an illegal product," he said by telephone from his home in Andenne.

Because the second sample's result isn't known, Eerdekens said, "We do not want to prejudge her innocence."

The minister said in the interview the report he received did not mention that Kuznetsova asked for a medical exemption for the substance.

Ephedrine is often contained in cold remedies. It also is used in weight-reducing formulas, and some athletes take it to get a short-term energy burst and to increase alertness.

On Saturday, Eerdekens said a player at the Charleroi tournament had tested positive but did not name the player or substance.

Kuznetsova is seeded fifth at the Australian Open and defeated Jessica Kirkland of the United States 6-1, 6-1 in the first round Monday.

"I've never used any drugs to improve my performance," the Russian said after that victory — and before Eerdekens identified her. "I have not been notified of any positive test, and I think it is unfair that it's come out the way it did."

The test at last month's exhibition event was carried out by regional Belgian authorities and was not commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the WTA Tour or the International Tennis Federation.

Eerdekens said the regional Francophone government of Belgium had no authority to impose sanctions and would leave it up to the sport's governing bodies.

Under WADA rules, use of banned stimulants can draw a suspension of up two years. However, the penalty can be reduced or waived if the athlete was using a cold medicine.

The WTA Tour said it had not been notified that any of its players had tested positive.