Canas investigated over doping case

World number eight Guillermo Canas has told Argentine media that he is being investigated by the ATP over a positive doping test.

Canas, in an interview published by respected newspapers La Nacion and Clarin, said he was pulling out of the Davis Cup tie against Australia next month because of the investigation. He said that he was innocent.

"I'm being investigated by the ATP for doping," he told La Nacion, adding that the governing body's rules had stopped him from speaking on the matter before.

"The matter of the positive is difficult. I don't know what happened. I've been over everything I've taken with my team and there is nothing which is prohibited. I trust the system. I hope it's a mistake and nothing more.

"I've never looked to take anything extra or anything which isn't permitted to gain an advantage in tennis," added Canas who has also withdrawn from Wimbledon.

Both newspapers said that the alleged positive test happened during the Acapulco ATP tournament in February in Mexico.

The ATP said yesterday it could not confirm or deny the test.

Canas's compatriots Guillermo Coria and Mariano Puerta have been suspended in the past.

Coria was banned for seven months and fined $98,500 in 2001 after testing positive for nandrolone.

Puerta was suspended for nine months after he was found to have the banned substance clenbuterol in his system during a doping test at a tournament in Chile in 2003.