Nadal discusses Sharapova, doping rumours

Published by Tennismash

Rafael Nadal (centre) chats to the media at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells; Getty Images

Rafael Nadal has said Maria Sharapova “must pay for it” after admitting to taking a banned substance and addressed doping rumours that have surfaced periodically during his illustrious career.

The Spaniard, in California for the BNP Paribas Open, spoke to media at Indian Wells and addressed the topic of doping.

“I want to believe that for sure is a mistake for Maria, She didn’t want to do it. But it’s obvious that is a negligence. And so now the rules are like this, and is fair, and now she must pay for it,” he said.

“To be honest, I never read it (the WADA banned list). I have my doctor that I have the confidence on. My doctor is the doctor of the Spanish Tennis Federation since lot of years. Is the doctor for all the Spanish tennis players. So for sure I have full confidence on him and I never take nothing that he doesn’t know.

“You know what, I heard about a few times against talking doping from my person, and I’m a little bit tired with that. Because I was very far, all the time, from that. I really don’t know nothing about the doping and I am completely clean guy.

“I work so much during all my career and when I get the injury, I get the injury, I never take nothing to be back quicker. Never have no one temptation on doing something wrong.

“I believe in the sport and in the values of the sport. The sport is an example for the societies, it’s an example for the kids, and if I am doing something that goes against that, I will be lying myself, not lying my opponents.”

Nadal, seeded No.4 and having received a first-round bye, begins his BNP Paribas Open campaign in the second round against either Gilles Muller or Victor Estrella Burgos.

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