French Open finalist Mariano Puerta - "Don't trust anyone"
In 2005 Mariano Puerta sensationally reached the final of the French Open. A few weeks later, the Argentine was banned from taking a banned substance.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Aug 04, 2020, 10:02 pm
Mariano Puertoa's run at Roland Garros in 2005 started with a medium-loud bang: the Argentinian left-hander defeated Ivan Ljubicic, currently Roger Federer's coach, in 13th place in three sets. This was followed by successes against two qualifiers: Kristof Vlieg and a young Swiss, Stan Wawrinka .
After a smooth victory against compatriot José Ascasuso, an Argentinian was waiting for Puerta in the quarterfinals with Guillermo Canas. Puerta had to go over five sets, as well as in the semi-final against Nikolay Davydenko. In the final, the outsider won set one against Rafael Nadal , but ultimately had to surrender in four rounds.
So much for the sporting success story. What followed was no longer so edifying. Puerta was tested positive for Etilefrin when the repeat offender (who was already conspicuous in 2003 and had been banned for nine months) was initially sentenced by the ITF to an eight-year ban.
Incorrect information from CAS
Puerta took action against this sanction at the international sports court, the CAS. And at least it was reduced to two years. On the grounds that he drank from a glass in his wife's home that was said to have contained water contaminated with a drug. Puerta has now revoked this version in an interview with the newspaper La Nacion.
Rather, he took supplements that his team illegally obtained. These pills would have contained traces of etilefrin. Puerta: "My lawyers said it wasn't a good idea to tell the truth."
Mario Lecman, the former fitness coach from Puerto Rico, remembers it quite differently: “I have nothing to do with it. I didn't give him anything. That's a lie."
Puerto's irresponsible action
Whatever the actual situation, Mariano Puerta has been cleared 15 years after his greatest sporting success. “I would say to the current generation of tennis players: don't do anything that could put you in a position like mine. How can you be sure? Be extremely responsible, don't delegate, don't trust anyone. The price you have to pay for a mistake is very high. I acted irresponsibly. "