Rafael Nadal demands 100,000 euros in damages from former French Sports Minister Roselyne Bachelot.Bachelot had accused the world number one of covering up a positive doping test.
French Open record winner Nadal sued Bachelot.However, neither of them was present at the hearing in Paris on Friday.
Nadal’s lawyer Patrick Maisonneuve explained to the court that the doping charge could have “major consequences” for Nadal with regard to its existing or future sponsors.The 16-time Grand Slam winner has never been tested positive and vehemently denies having ever used a prohibited substance.
“I want to defend my integrity and image as an athlete, but I also want to defend the values I have fought for throughout my career,”Nadal said about the motives of his complaint.
In March 2016, Bachelot had claimed in a TV programme that Nadal wanted to cover up a positive doping finding in 2012 with an injury break of several months.I want to prevent false allegations against an athlete being made in the media without any background,”Nadal said.
From 2007 to 2010, Bachelot was Sports Minister under the then French President Nicolas Sarkozy.After that, she had ended her political career.