Tribunal ends test 'hell' for Rusedski

The former Davis Cup captain, David Lloyd, said that Greg Rusedski had been "living in hell" until he was cleared of doping charges by an independent tribunal yesterday.

The former Davis Cup captain, David Lloyd, said that Greg Rusedski had been "living in hell" until he was cleared of doping charges by an independent tribunal yesterday.

The British No 2 tested positive for nandrolone but argued successfully that the trace of the banned substance had entered his system in supplements given to him by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which runs the men's tour.

"He has been living in hell," Lloyd said, "but now he has cleared his name. I have been in touch with Greg for the last nine months and I am just so pleased for him and his family."

Rusedski's former Davis Cup team-mate Barry Cowan, who has called for tennis to adopt "zero tolerance" for drug cheats, said that Rusedski's acquittal had opened up a number of issues. "I would rather be too careful than take the risk and other players have got to toe the line," Cowan said. "If that means bread and water, then so be it."

But the former player Chris Bailey called on the ATP to offer more guidance. "It's getting to the stage where players are not taking anything, they're sticking to water and awaiting direction from the ATP," he said.