[Grainiary]

Truly, as clearly heartless as I typically am- I just feel awful about this. I HATE when these stories come out- selfishly on my part, especially when this involves a player as talented as Richie. Stories like this just get me nervous......who's next?!?!? I just want to see the best players play. Damn.

[BrodiKennedy]

If they gave Hingis a couple of years, they have to do the same for Richie.

He's 23, so if it's two years, he'll be 25 when he returns. Not too late to resurrect a career, but he's going to go down in the annals of history as one of the ones who could have been. A healthy reminder of why I have all the respect in the world for the Ferrer's of the world.

Here he is at IW this year. I'm trying to figure out if his pupils are dilated

[b7RKli4l]

What you're taking Dry's place in this discussion?

Just trying to tweak the thread to keep it light hearted.

If they gave Hingis a couple of years, they have to do the same for Richie.

He's 23, so if it's two years, he'll be 25 when he returns. Not too late to resurrect a career, but he's going to go down in the annals of history as one of the ones who could have been. A healthy reminder of why I have all the respect in the world for the Ferrer's of the world.

Here he is at IW this year. I'm trying to figure out if his pupils are dilated

LOL. When you took that photo, Moose, was he walking really fast?

[Peretool]

He's 23, so if it's two years, he'll be 25 when he returns. Not too late to resurrect a career, but he's going to go down in the annals of history as one of the ones who could have been. A healthy reminder of why I have all the respect in the world for the Ferrer's of the world.

Care to elaborate, what does Ferrer have to do with Gasquet as it relates to this situation?

[cigattIcTot]

Oh my goodness, this is awful!

[enurneAcourdy]

Rules are rules. If Richard was stupid enough to violate one of the easier banned substances to avoid (as opposed to something that happens to be in an over-the-counter cold medicine), then he deserves the ban.

But, I still go back to what I thought was the purpose of these rules - to catch those who are using performance enhancing drugs to gain an unfair advantage over other athletes in the sport. Those are the cheaters.

But, most of those caught, except Karatantcheva, are being caught for an ingredient in a hair growing product, an extra dose of approved asthma medicine because of a bad attack, recreational drugs, or nandrolone (something the doctors still are not sure how much might be produced naturally in some people).

Also, if all these other violations, which at least involve performance enhancing drugs, result in bans in the months (with the exception of Karatantcheva), why will a recreational drug get you an automatic 2 years?

[smifatv]

Not at all directed at you shtexas, but just in general I find the reference to cocaine as a "recreational drug" absolutely ridiculous.

I guess when rich people snort coke it's recreational. When the guy on the corner does it he's a junkie.

[Ehlgamxf]

First Hingis and now Gasquet. Both denied it. Both have been around long enough to know it would show in a random drug test and especially around Miami, the news was almost totally about how severe and intrusive the dope testing policy is. While I would not begrudge Martina and Richard an inch if they chose to (as has been said) make a night of it, there's certainly room for suspicion now in my mind about the accuracy of the results.

[enurneAcourdy]

Not at all directed at you shtexas, but just in general I find the reference to cocaine as a "recreational drug" absolutely ridiculous.

I guess when rich people snort coke it's recreational. When the guy on the corner does it he's a junkie.

Sorry for the term. But, they have two categories. Performance enhancers and recreational. It's not a performance enhancer, which is what the rules were supposed to be designed to catch.

And there is no way to know if this was used once or if Richard has a problem. Since it's not really cheating, and if a player has a problem, why not handle it in a way to actually help the player? Oh, but that would be too complicated. Just give Hingis a two year ban and wash your hands of it.

[Roamsaffots]

this is a catastrophy!!!!!!!

the point and I hope it s not moot is that he had already decided not to play Miami and informed the ATP of his withdrawal when he was controlled .

he will do some hair test to prove he is not a regular user.

I\m so bummed and appalled at the same time.