Martina Hingis has announced her retirement from professional tennis amid allegations that she tested positive for cocaine at this year's Wimbledon.
The former world number one revealed she had tested positive for the drug at SW19, where she lost in the third round to Laura Granville, but insisted she was not guilty of the charge.
The 27-year-old told a press conference she had never used drugs but had taken the decision to retire to avoid a protracted battle to clear her name.
"I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel one hundred per cent innocent," Hingis stated.
"I find this accusation so horrendous, so monstrous that I've decided to confront it head on by talking to the press.
"I would personally be terrified of taking drugs. When I was informed (about the test) I was shocked and appalled.
"My weapon on the tennis court is and always was one single thing, the game, the ingenuity on court and, for this style of tennis, there's only one performance enhancer, the love of the game."
"The reason I have come out with this is because I do not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities."
Hingis added that she had undergone a private test that came back negative and consulted an attorney.
"The attorney and his experts discovered various inconsistencies with the urine sample that was taken during Wimbledon.
"He is also convinced that the doping officials mishandled the process and would not be able to prove that the urine that was tested for cocaine actually came from me.
"And so, considering this situation, my age and the problems I have been having with my hip, I have decided to no longer play tennis on the Tour."
Rather bizarrely, the WTA Tour have come out to insist they have yet to recieve any information concerning a positive test from Hingis.
Chief executive Larry Scott said: "The WTA Tour has not received any official information regarding the positive doping test result referred to by Martina Hingis in her press conference and as a result we are not in a position to comment on the matter.
"However, it is important to remember that in the area of anti-doping, all players are presumed innocent until proven otherwise."
It is the second time the Swiss star has announced her retirement from the game having only returned to the sport two years ago after a four-year absence because of injuries.
A five-time Grand Slam title-winner, (Australian Open 1997-99, Wimbledon 1997 and US Open 1997), Hingis has not played since her second round exit at the US Open, bringing her season to a premature end last month because of hip problems, but had vowed to return to action.
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