Last Updated: Monday, 9 February, 2004, 13:49 GMT
Rusedski fights to clear name
Greg Rusedski is confident of clearing his name at the hearing into his failed drugs test, which begins on Monday.
The Canadian-born Briton is in his native city of Montreal to face an ATP tribunal, where he will state his case over a positive test for nandrolone last July.
If the hearing finds against Rusedski, he could be banned for up to two years.
But he told BBC Five Live: "I'm very confident about the situation. I have stated all along that I am innocent and hopefully the tribunal will agree."
The hearing begins at 9am local time (1300 GMT) but a verdict is not expected on Monday.
Rusedski's legal team will argue that his sample had the same "unique analytical fingerprint" as seven other positive tests which emerged last year.
Those seven players were cleared after the ATP were unable to prove that supplements handed out by their own trainers were not contaminated.
Rusedski made his test results known himself in January as he prepared for the Australian Open and hopes to be cleared by the three-man tribunal.
"I am advised that the tribunal chairman, Mr Fortier QC, is very highly qualified in this area so I am confident of a fair trial," Rusedski added.
"I am represented by Mark Gay, who is known as the lawyer for the prosecution in sports drugs cases. He was so convinced of the exceptional nature of this case that he agreed to represent me.
"Since the initial shock when the test results were revealed I have gained strength from the overwhelming circumstances of this case and the support I have received from the public and my sponsors."
Former British Davis Cup captain David Lloyd believes Rusedski is innocent but admitted that were the British number two to receive a ban, it would be a "life sentence".
"His whole career and future is on the line," Lloyd told the BBC Radio Four.
"It must be very worrying for him when he knows he has done nothing wrong.
"At his age, he certainly can't come back after two years and his reputation going forward as a commentator or anything else is going to be very difficult - so it really is a life sentence if he is found guilty."
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