2004 Mar 09 - Rusedski verdict imminent

Greg Rusedski's fate since testing positive for banned substance nandrolone at the RCA Championships in Indianapolis, USA in July 2003 could be decided by the ATP within days.

Greg has already endured three weeks of uncertainly while the ATP have been deliberating the findings from his hearing which begun on the 9th February 2004 in Montreal, Canada.

If found guilty Greg would receive an automatic two year ban which would almost certainly end the career of the British No.2.

LTA Performance Director David Felgate must of course be prepared for the worst possible scenario, and yet remains optimistic that the future of British tennis would not be in dire straits should Greg not be cleared.

David said:

"I really hope it doesn’t come to this but if the worst happens and we lose Greg, we will be able to handle it.

"You only have to go down to Queen’s Club to see the environment in which our next level of players are working. The courts are buzzing.

"Picking the Davis Cup team should be a headache and we’re moving towards that."