Venus Williams threw her support behind former world number one Martina Hingis yesterday on hearing that the now-retired player had copped a two-year ban from the game after failing a dope test.
Hingis failed a test for cocaine on June 29 last year while at Wimbledon but has since professed her innocence. The International Tennis Federation's Anti-Doping Tribunal was having none of it, though, and yesterday slapped her with a two year ban.
'I like Martina, I think she is a nice girl. I was shocked liked everyone else,' said the American after winning her semi-final at the JB Group Classic. 'For me personally, I give her the benefit of the doubt.'
Hingis now has to return all money earned at last year's Wimbledon - where she reached the third round - and subsequent tournaments, totalling US$129,481. She retired from the game on hearing that she had returned a positive sample.
The five-time grand slam winner - who had originally retired in 2003 due to persistent injuries but had made a comeback in 2006 - now has three weeks in which to appeal the decision.
Williams repeated the views she expressed in Hong Kong on Thursday, saying she believed drugs were not an issue in tennis.