French Open finalist Puerta banned for 8 years
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-22 09:09

Besides forfeiting his prize money from the French Open, Puerta will give up his titles, prize money and ranking points won after Roland Garros. He is currently ranked No. 12 on the ATP Tour.

Since the French Open, Puerta has earned about $330,000 in prize money.

The ITF's sanction was welcomed by World Anti-Doping Agency chief Dick Pound.

"You're dealing with somebody who's tested positive twice in less than two years and clearly doesn't think the rules apply to him," Pound said.

Puerta, who joined the ATP Tour in June 1997, won his third career title in April at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco. He also won in Palermo, Italy, in 1998, and Bogota, Colombia, in 2000.

"It's awful news because Puerta is a nice guy," Argentine Tennis Association president Enrique Morea said. "They have ruined his career."

Puerta is one of six Argentine players caught up in doping cases in recent years. Guillermo Coria, Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Canas served doping suspensions, and Martin Rodriguez received a warning for a positive caffeine test.

The other, doubles specialist Mariano Hood, has acknowledged testing positive for a banned drug at the French Open.

Bulgarian teenager Sesil Karatantcheva tested positive for the steroid nandrolone after losing in the quarterfinals at the French Open, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported Tuesday.