Hingis retires in wake of drugs test admission

ZURICH: Switzerland's Martina Hingis on Friday announced her retirement from tennis here after admitting she is under investigation for a positive test for cocaine.
       
Hingis said that she failed a drugs test during this year's Wimbledon.
       
"I have tested positive but I have never taken drugs and I feel 100 per cent innocent," Hingis said.
       
"The reason I have come out with this is because I do not want to have a fight with anti-doping authorities."
       
She added, "Because of my age and my health problems I have also decided to retire from professional tennis."
       
It is the second time that Hingis, one of the teenaged stars of the game in the 1990s, has retired from the professional circuit.
       
The 27-year-old Swiss star, who has five Grand Slams to her name, first retired in 2003 due to persistent ankle injury problems.
       
She returned to the top flight in 2006, but despite showing her potential by winning three titles she has struggled to recover from a string of injuries and health-related problems.
       
Hingis brought her season to a premature end last month because of hip problems but had vowed to return to action.
       
She ended 2006 ranked seventh in the world and is currently ranked 19th.