Richie To Return!

French player Richard Gasquet will be able to return to professional tennis after his hearing that took place on June 29th. ITF released an announcement stating that the ban was overturned due to "no significant fault or negligence". They also stated that:

With regard to sanction, the Tribunal accepted Mr Gasquet’s plea of No Significant Fault or Negligence, on the basis that he was able to demonstrate on the balance of probabilities how the cocaine entered his system (through inadvertent contamination in a nightclub the night before his scheduled match), and that, while he was at fault in exposing himself to the risk of such contamination, that fault was not significant. It further ruled that, in the exceptional and “probably unique” circumstances of the case, it would be unjust and disproportionate to impose a 12-month sanction on Mr Gasquet. Instead it ruled that Mr Gasquet be suspended from participation for a period of two months and 15 days, commencing on 1 May 2009, and thus ending at 08:00 GMT on 15 July 2009. It also ruled that his results, ranking points and prize money from events subsequent to Miami should remain undisturbed.

In other words, the ITF agrees that he did not intentionally take cocaine, but he could have done more to prevent the events from occurring. His ban is now over and he can resume playing. Hopefully upon Gasquet's return he will finally realize the opportunity he has and will step up his game. Before the suspension he has had a propensity for seemingly exhibiting less than optimal effort. He is just too good to level off as a barely top 30 ranked player on tour. I know I can't wait for his return, his wonderful single-handed backhand has been missed!