Hingis 'to fight positive test'

Martina Hingis will challenge her positive drugs test, the head of the women's tennis tour has told the BBC.

Hingis announced her retirement from tennis after revealing the positive test, and she indicated she would not be challenging the result.

But WTA chief Larry Scott said he understood Hingis would try to prove she was not guilty of taking cocaine.

"Everything that she and her representatives have said to me is that they are going to fight it," he said.

Interview: WTA chief executive Larry Scott

The popular former world number one revealed she had returned a positive result from a routine urine sample taken after losing to Laura Granville in the third round of this year's Wimbledon championships.

Hingis insisted she was "100% innocent" and that this was backed up by a negative result on a hair test, which can show whether or not someone has taken cocaine.

Scott told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme: "From what I've read in her statement, and my conversation with her representatives, they are putting forward a case partially based on that.

"There was some suggestion [it was] not a 100% certainty it was her sample that was tested."

But Scott added that it would not be easy for Hingis to prove her innocence.

"Once you are found to have a prohibitive substance in your system, the burden of proof then shifts to the player," he said.

"If it's in your system you have to prove how it might have got there other than suspicious ways."

Source: BBC Sport