Wilander Faces Suspension After Positive Drug Test

Mats Wilander has always had an uneasy relationship with “the system.” Now he claims the system, in the form of the International Tennis Federation, is out to smear him with a trumped-up drug charge just in time to spoil what could be his last visit as a viable contender to his favorite Grand Slam.

Will Wilander, a three-time French Open champion, miss this year’s event because the ITF might slap him and Karel Novacek with a three-month suspension this week for allegedly testing positive for cocaine at the 1995 French Open?

Wilander, now 31 and ranked No.72, is alleged to have produced a urine specimen that twice tested positive for cocaine, a punishable offense, and marijuana, an overlookable one, that may prevent him from playing there this year.

Wilander and Novacek were not notified until September that there had been trouble with their test results, and they were not told until October, after a second test confirmed the original finding: that the ITF intended to pursue its suspension.

Both players claimed innocence, hired attorneys and commenced an internal appeals process that has dragged on for nine months.

Pete Sampras, the top-ranked player in the world was designated top-seeded in the French Open, but defending champion Thomas Muster is still the favorite.

Steffi Graf and Monica Seles were the top-seeded on the women’s side. The pair share the top spot in the world rankings.