Gasquet May Not Be Out of Hot Water

Gasquet’s kiss excuse may have gotten him off the hook in the short-term but could still be a problem for the long-term. The tennis star was accused of testing positive of cocaine and then suspended by the ITF.

Gasquet then said that he tested positive because he kissed a woman who had the substance on her lips. What seemed like an outlandish excuse seemed to work with the ITF. The Frenchman was reinstated for time served during his appeal.

Now, the woman has slapped the tennis star with a defamation of character lawsuit. That lawsuit could now be problematic for Gasquet now, as the Guardian reports:

Although the test results have yet to be returned, that did not prevent the ITF from concluding that: "On the balance of probability [Gasquet was] contaminated with cocaine by Pamela."

"Pamela" has now brought a legal complaint of her own against Gasquet, claiming she has been defamed by the former world No7's description of her in the ITF hearing through which she believes she was easily identified. "My client has been dragged through the mud," said her lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou. "She has become an alibi."

"Pamela" says she did not take cocaine and adds that, when negative tests are returned from the laboratory, as she maintains they will be, she reserves the right to pursue the ITF for what she perceives as complicity in the alleged defamation.

If “Pamela’s” samples are negative and she decides to also hold the ITF accountable, Gasquet could be back in hot water.

(Image: Reuters)