Rafael Nadal has formally launched a lawsuit against the former minister of sport in France after she claimed on national TV that he served a silent ban for doping.
Roselyne Bachelot caused outrage in Nadal’s camp after she claimed in March that the nine-time French Open champion deliberately faked an injury to cover up a failed drugs test. The comments from Bachelot came shortly after Maria Sharapova confirmed that she had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.
“We know that the famous injury of Rafael Nadal, where he was out for months, is was certainly due to a positive test,” Bachelot said on a French TV show.
The period of absence she was referring to occurred between 2012-2013. The Spaniard missed the end of 2012 due to tendinitis in his knee. Then at the start of 2013 he withdrew from the Australian Open due to a stomach virus. Nadal’s absence from the tour lasted almost eight months.
The controversial remarks sparked a sharp response from the Spanish sporting world who jumped to the defense of Nadal. The Secretary of state for Sport in Spain, Miguel Cardinal, branded the comments as ‘astonishingly frivolous’ and questioned Bachelot’s knowledge about sport. Meanwhile, Real Madrid FC released a public statement in support of Nadal’s integrity in the world of sport.
Nadal is suing Bachelot for defamation of character. In a lengthy letter to the French legal authorities regarding his lawsuit, Nadal has stated that any compensation paid by Bachelot should be donated to an NGO or a foundation in France.
There is yet to be any comment for Bachelot concerning the pending lawsuit. The 69-year-old has served in the French cabinet twice in her political career. Prior to being the minister of sport for three years (2007-2010), she was also the environmental minister between 2002-2004.
