Hingis banned after tribunal confirms positive drugs test verdict

Hingis took her battle public last November, contesting what the International Tennis Federation said was a positive test for cocaine at Wimbledon last summer.

 Friday's ruling from the independent tribunal handed the 27-year-old a two-year suspension while instructing her to return 129,481 dollars earned at Wimbledon and subsequent events.

 "The Tribunal rejected the suggestion made on behalf of Ms Hingis that there were doubts about the identity and/or integrity of the sample attributed to her.

 "It therefore found that she had committed a Doping Offence under Article C.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in player's sample)," read an ITF statement.

 "The Tribunal also rejected Ms Hingis' plea of No (or No Significant) Fault or Negligence, on the basis that no mitigation was possible as it had not been shown how the cocaine entered her system.

 "It therefore ruled, in accordance with the sanctions prescribed by the World Anti-Doping Code, that Ms Hingis be suspended from participation for a period of two years, commencing on 1 October 2007."

   Hingis announced her retirement in November, insisting that she will fight the charges. She termed herself "100 per cent innocent."

   Hingis said that her A and B urine samples tested positive for cocaine but a hair strand test which she commissioned upon learning the news was negative.

 Her British attorney, noted for successful defence of sporting drug-test cases, believes that testing and lab procedures could have rendered the Hingis samples contaminated.

 Hingis retired in late 2002 with ankle and foot problems but made a surprise return to the WTA in January, 2006, winning three titles including Tokyo this season.