Nadal wins defamation case over Bachelot doping allegation
The former French sports minister, Roselyne Bachelot, has been ordered to pay damages to tennis star Rafa Nadal after accusing him of doping.
Tennis ace Rafa Nadal won a defamation case against France's former health and sports minister Roselyne Bachelot on Thursday after she accused him of doping on television.
Bachelot was handed a 500-euro fine by a court in Paris and ordered to pay 12,000 euros in damages and legal fees to the 16-time Grand Slam winner over the allegation she made to the D8 channel in March 2016.
Bachelot claimed Nadal hid failed drugs test in 2012
The ex-minister from 2007-2010 alleged that Nadal had faked an injury in 2012, when he missed the final six months of the season due to knee problems, in order to hide a positive drug test.
The 31-year-old Spaniard has never failed a drugs test and denies ever using banned substances.
Nadal took action against Bachelot to set example
He had sought 100,000 euros in damages and explained last year that he had decided to take legal action to set an example, having previously ignored allegations against him.
His lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, told the court in October that the doping accusation could have had "major consequences" for Nadal concerning his "existing or future sponsors".