Tennis: Kuznetsova's lawyers join tennis doping storm

MELBOURNE - Svetlana Kuznetsova's lawyers entered the fray as the Australian Open doping scandal degenerated into largely a war of words between the Russian Tennis Federation and the Belgian Government yesterday.

As the resilient Kuznetsova channelled her energy into matters more pressing - like trying to win a second Grand Slam title - Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev accused Belgian regional Sports Minister Claude Eerdekens of bias in the doping controversy.

"What he has done is beyond any ethical norms accepted in the civilised sporting community," Tarpishchev said, echoing the sentiments on Tuesday of WTA boss Larry Scott.

"He not only wrongly accused one of our top tennis players. By doing it, he also slandered the whole of Russia."

Eerdekens revealed on Monday that Kuznetsova had tested positive for ephedrine at an exhibition event in Belgium last month.

But the WTA cleared the world No 5 on Tuesday because the stimulant is permitted out of competition and also with a doctor's certificate.

Kuznetsova, 19, admitted taking cough medicine during the exhibition event.

She is now the player on the front foot, leaving her minders to seek avenues for legal recourse against Eerdekens.

- REUTERS