By Chris Davies
January 17 2005

US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova has tested positive for a banned drug, according to reports and could now face a long ban out of the game.
Belgian sports minister Claude Eerdekens was quoted by news agencies saying the Russian tested positive for the stimulant ephedrine on 19 December.

Eerdekens told Agence France Presse: "There is a problem for Kuznetsova. Ephedrine was discovered."

Kuznetsova, ranked fifth in the world, said: "I am not worried. I am not using anything to push myself in the game."

However, Kuznetsova made her comments at a news conference before the reports had been confirmed.

Eerdekens added that confirmation of the findings was sent last Friday to the player's address in Spain, as well as to the Belgian prosecutors' office and the Belgian and Russian tennis federations.

Kuznetsova is said to have failed a test following an exhibition match in Charleroi, Belgium.

However, Eerdekens conceded she might have taken a medicine which contained the banned substance.

"Kuznetsova remains innocent until proved guilty. She can ask for it to be tested again," he said.

"We have simply stated a fact. It is for the federation concerned to impose the disciplinary measures after a procedure that respects the defence.

"Either the ephedrine was taken to improve her performance or it is because she took some medicine legitimately to cure an infection."

Before Eerdekens' confirmation, Kuznetsova, who romped into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday, said she was mystified by the reports.

"Maybe if something happened it was a mistake," she said.

"I think it's definitely unfair to every other player because all of us are now thinking what's going on.

"I'm not worried about it because the truth will come out."

"I'm not using any anabolics or whatever it's called. I'm pretty sure about this, I'm pretty calm about this."