If you aren’t aware of the events that went on during the 2009 French Open, then you’re in for a wild ride of drug use and betting that will make you think you were watching baseball.

      Rafael Nadal accused Anti-Doping controllers of “harassing” tennis players on drug use and was criticized for supporting a friend, Richard Gasquet, who is being accused of drug-use during the Open. Gasquet was tested positive for using cocaine during last month’s Miami tournament and is trying to clear his name after being suspended.

      “He’s a good friend of mine,” Nadal said. “And I discussed this with him last week, and he’s not taking cocaine. If you kiss a girl at a club who’s taking drugs, anything can happen.”

      At every match there are at least a dozen reporters, not to mention the hundreds of fans, putting pressure on each player to perform and impress everyone. But there is no need to take drugs in order to relieve the stress from being constantly watched.

      For Nadal to say that his friend is being harassed and that it’s unfair to ban him for something he didn’t do, is laughable.

      Nadal again criticized the Anti-Doping Agency for their rule that athletes must tell authorities where they will be at a chosen hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. each day for a three-month period. If the rule is violated, then the players will face possible suspension.

      To me that is reasonable to criticize, but to say it’s unfair to ban a player for drug use is absurd. These athletes are role models for younger players and fans; for them to go unpunished is what is unfair.

      Nadal has one of the most powerful forehands in tennis today, but maybe when being interviewed, it’s best for him to just smile and nod.

      If you think that made your IQ drop wait till you here what Matthieu Montcourt, who reached the second round at the Roland Garros, had to say about betting at the French Open.

      After facing a five-week ban and a $12,000 fine for betting on other matches, Montcourt said the punishment is too harsh.

      “This is, for me, a very big penalty and very big fine and very big suspension,” he said.

      Could he have used “very big’”anymore in his interview with ESPN? It’s too bad his vocabulary isn’t very big. Hopefully his game is better than his interviewing skills.

      According to ESPN, when asked about whether the difference was too large between his punishment and fellow French player Richard Gasquet’s suspension on cocaine use, Montcourt said it ‘s completely different, and there is no comparison.