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Hingis Retires, Denies Charges

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By HOWARD FENDRICH, The Associated Press

Published: November 2, 2007

In an out-of-nowhere end to Martina Hingis' comeback, the five-time Grand Slam champion revealed Thursday she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon and will retire for a second time rather than fight what she called a "horrendous" accusation.

"I am frustrated and angry," the 27-year-old Hingis said at a news conference in Zurich, Switzerland, her voice breaking as she fought back tears. "I believe that I am absolutely, 100 percent innocent."

She read a prepared statement ending with the vow, "I have never taken drugs," then left without taking questions.

Although the formerly No. 1-ranked Hingis said she's retiring in part because she doesn't want to spend years dealing with the legal process, WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott said he expects the case to continue.

Hingis tested positive June 29, the day she lost in straight sets to Laura Granville in the third round at Wimbledon. That was her first tournament after missing 1 1/2 months with hip and back injuries.

"I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous, that I have decided to confront it head-on by talking to the press," Hingis' statement said.

She said she hired an attorney who found "various inconsistencies" with the urine sample from Wimbledon.

"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was tested for cocaine actually came from me," she said.

Hingis said her family and management suggested she take a test that examines a person's hair to check for cocaine use and the result was negative, although she didn't say when or where she was tested.

Thursday's stunning retirement is not the first time Hingis walked away from the sport she once ruled. In 2002, she quit because of foot and leg injuries.

When she returned in 2006, Hingis reached two Grand Slam quarterfinals and finished the year ranked No. 7. She was ranked No. 19 this week.

At the height of her powers, she became the youngest major champion of the 20th century when she won the 1997 Australian Open at 16, and later that year she became the youngest woman to top the rankings.

She went on to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Open that season, coming within a loss in the French Open final of a calendar-year Grand Slam.

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