PARIS, May 15 (Xinhua) -- International Tennis Federaton (ITF) Tuesday dismissed a charge against French female player Alize Cornet for three "Missed Tests" within one 12-month period.
The ITF ruled out the possibility of a ban on Cornet.
Cornet, 28, had been charged on Jan. 11 with having three "Missed Tests" recorded against her within one 12-month period, meaning she failed three times in one 12-month period to make herself available for testing at the time and location she declared for that purpose in her whereabouts filing.
However, by a majority decision, an Independent Tribunal found that the Doping Control Officer did not satisfy all of the requirements stated in relevant Article of the International Standard for Testing and Investigations in relation to the third Missed Test.
According to the Panel, the Doping Control Officer did not do "what was reasonable in the circumstances to try to locate the player, short of giving her any advance notice of the test", for which the third Missed Test declared against Cornet no longer stands.
Therefore, the ITF made the decision that the charge that Cornet has committed a violation of the Program is dismissed, and there is no award as to costs.
Cornet, who posted a career-best world No. 11 in 2009, is eligible to compete at any tournament, including the French Open which will kick off late in May.
