Mariano Puerta cruises into 2nd round at Japan Open

TOKYO—Top-seeded Mariano Puerta defeated US qualifier Eric Taino 6-3, 6-4 in the second round of the Japan Open on Wednesday when rain led to postponements and a backlog of matches. Third-seeded Robby Ginepri of the US also advanced to the third round, beating Alexander Popp of Germany 6-4, 6-0. The French sports newspaper L’Equipe reported Wednesday that Puerta tested positive for a banned stimulant following the Argentine’s loss to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final and could be banned for life. The International Tennis Federation, which oversees drug-testing at the French Open and other Grand Slam events, has declined comment.
Phone calls to Puerta’s hotel room in Tokyo on Wednesday went unanswered. Giorgio Brasero, Puerta’s French-based agent, said he spoke with the player by phone and they will take their time before deciding on a course of action. “I prefer not to elaborate for now,” Brasero said. “There is a sense of injustice. This has upset everyone, his wife, his friends. Should we believe everything L’Equipe says? No”. Ginepri and Puerta received first-round byes. Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark edged Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 7-6 (1), 7-6 (9), and Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand defeated Takahiro Terachi of Japan 6-1, 6-4.
In women’s play, third-seeded Tatiana Golovin of France defeated Abigail Spears of the U.S. 6-4, 6-2; Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden upset seventh-seeded Shinobu Asagoe of Japan 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; and Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic rallied past Akiko Morigami of Japan 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Rain forced many of Wednesday’s matches to be moved from the outdoor courts at Ariake Colloseum to the inside center court. Argentina’s Mariano Puerta tested positive for a banned drug following his loss in the French Open final and faces a possible life ban for a second doping offense, the sports newspaper L’Equipe reported Wednesday. Puerta tested positive for the stimulant etilefrine after his four-set loss to Spain’s Rafael Nadal in the June 5 final, the French publication reported, without citing sources.
Puerta’s urine samples — the A and B specimens — were analyzed by the French doping laboratory in Chatenay-Malabry. Puerta told associates he had taken medication to fight the flu at the time of the tournament, L’Equipe said. The 10th-ranked Argentine won a second-round match Wednesday at the Japan Open. Calls by The Associated Press to his hotel room in Tokyo went unanswered. Giorgio Brasero, Puerta’s French-based agent, said he spoke with the player by phone and they will take their time before deciding on a course of action. “I prefer not to elaborate for now,” Brasero said. “There is a sense of injustice. This has upset everyone, his wife, his friends. Should we believe everything L’Equipe says? No”.
In August, L’Equipe reported that Lance Armstrong tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug EPO during the first of his seven Tour de France victories in 1999. Armstrong denied the accusations. Etilefrine, which can be used to treat hypertension, is among the stimulants on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances. Use of the drug carries a ban of up two years. The International Tennis Federation, which oversees drug-testing at the French Open and other Grand Slam events, has declined comment. This would be Puerta’s second positive test, putting him at risk of becoming the first tennis player to receive a life ban for doping. He served a nine-month suspension after testing positive for clenbuterol in February 2003 at an ATP tournament in Chile. Under WADA rules, athletes face a life ban if they commit a second serious doping violation. Penalties can be reduced if athletes can prove mitigating circumstances. Puerta’s name will not be officially released until an independent panel reviews the case according to the rules of tennis’ governing body, L’Equipe said. Puerta is one of five Argentine players caught up in doping cases in recent years. Guillermo Coria, Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Canas served drug suspensions, while Martin Rodriguez received a warning for a positive caffeine test.—Agencies