Spanish govt backs Nadal in doping scandal

Yeah, this still hasn't died. The scandal that caused entire teams to be disqualified from the Tour de France started a rumor that Nadal was on the same list of dopers. Since then, this has been denied by Nadal and other sources who have the list - and now his government is backing him up.

Four years ago, Spain's Lourdes Dominguez Lino was suspended three months from the WTA Tour after testing positive for cocaine. Lino, who is ranked 41st in the world, lost her opening match at the US Open 6-1, 6-2, to American Serena Williams.

Her countryman Rafael Nadal said last week before the start of the US Open that he had been tested 17 times in the past year.

Nadal's name was falsely linked by a French Sunday newspaper to a Spanish cycling doping scandal.

The newspaper reported last month that Nadal's name was on a list which also included five players from the Real Madrid football team.

Nadal has vehemently denied the accusations.

"It is not true," Nadal said last week before the start of the US Open where he is seeded second. "Everybody knows it is not true. I have 17 anti-doping controls every year so that's stupid to say. It is nothing."

The Spanish government issued a statement clearing Nadal of any wrongdoing.