bild

Picture dated Sunday 05 June 2005 shows Mariano Puerta of Argentina viewing his forehand volley going into the net during the Men's Final against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the French Open in Roland Garros, Paris. Argentine Mariano Puerta said Thursday, 22 December 2005, he is considering appealing an eight-year ban from professional tennis, which will effectively end his career, after a second positive test for a banned substance. The 27-year-old French Open finalist was slammed with the sanction Wednesday by the London-based International Tennis Federation. Puerta, ranked 13th in the world, has denied guilt ever since the French sports daily lquipe broke news of the positive test in October. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET