By Daily Sports on October 4, 2017

British tennis player Dan Evans has been banned for one year after testing positive for cocaine, which he explained had accidentally mixed with his medication in a washbag.

The British number four provided the positive sample at the Barcelona Open on 24 April and his suspension is back-dated to begin from that date.

Evans, 27, will therefore be free to return to action from 24 April 2018.

"I am determined to return to the sport I love," said the Briton.

"I want to thank everyone who has supported me throughout this difficult period."

Governing body the International Tennis Federation (ITF) explained that, because cocaine is not performance enhancing and it was taken out of competition, a potential four-year ban was instead 12 months.

The ITF decision said Evans "promptly admitted his violation" and it accepted his account of how the cocaine got into his system, adding that he bore "no significant fault or negligence for the violation".

The Briton has also had to forfeit 103,890 euros (£92,205) of prize money won and the ranking points gained between the date of his test and the announcement of the positive finding on 23 June.

•Photo shows Dan Evans.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 4, 2017

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