Martina Hingis announced her retirement today and faced the issue of having tested positive for cocaine.

“I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous that I’ve decided to confront it head on by talking to the press,” she said. “I am frustrated and angry. I believe that I am absolutely 100 percent innocent.”

Hingis stated that the positive test could lead to a doping suspension of up to two years was the motivating factor in her deciding to retire because she didn’t want to spend years fighting the case.

Though Hingis underwent a privately arranged hair test, which came back negative for cocaine, her official backup “B” sample test also tested positive for the drug.

“I would think that it would be impossible for anyone to maintain the coordination required to play top class tennis while under the influence of drugs. And I know one other thing — I would personally be terrified of taking drugs.”

WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott said the tour had not received any official information about a positive test and “as a result we are not in a position to comment on the matter.”

[Source: Yahoo News]