Rafael Nadal (Photo : Getty Images)
In the aftermath of Maria Sharapova's admission that she tested positive for drug use, it opened a Pandora's Box of accusations.
One of the more controversial takes is that of Roselyne Bachelot, France's sports minister from 2007 to 2010 who took a shot on no less than Rafael Nadal, Spain's best tennis player to date, as quoted by The Guardian.
"We know that Nadal's famous seven-month injury was without a doubt due to a positive [drug test]," Bachelot said. "When you see a tennis player who stops playing for long months, it is because he has tested positive and because they are covering it up. It is not something that always happens, but yes it happens more than you think."
Nadal has already declared that he will sue Bachelot as her position led many to believe the accusations.
"I'm going to sue her, and I'm going to sue everyone who [is] going to comment [on] something similar in the future, because I am tired of that," said Nadal. 'There is a couple of times I heard comments like this ... this is going to be the last one, because I'm going to sue her.
This is not the only time that a French tennis figure has openly accused a Spanish netter. In 2011, French player Yannick Noah said to BBC, as recalled by Oregon Live: "Today if you don't have the magic potion, it's hard to win. How can a nation dominate sport virtually overnight like this?"
It was mentioned that France was one of the sports early superpowers but no Frenchman has won a title since 1983 (Noah himself at the French Open). Spain has become the sport's top country with Nadal carrying the flag.
Oregon Live's Douglas Perry noted that the tone of "virtually overnight" hints of jealousy. The French were the culturally dominant nation since throughout history but now, in sports, Spain has become a world power.
Is jealousy the main reason behind the accusations? One of the basis for Bachelot's remarks is how Nadal's career went downhill after the injury. He has yet to take a Grand Slam since 2014 and only won minor tournaments in what is described as "the worst stretch of his career."
Thus, Perry suggests that Nadal's best defense would be on the tennis court, not on the legal one. Perry paints a dream scenario. "(Nadal) can find his form in the weeks ahead and win his 10th French Open in June, just after his 30th birthday. A bonus: beating Monfils and Gasquet on his way to upsetting World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final."
Will the dream scenario come true for Nadal? The talent discrepancy is too wide for there to be a Spanish-French rivalry, but the animosity is there. France has to take out Nadal, one way or another.
