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February 11, 2012

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Nadal slams France for smear campaign

RAFA Nadal has hit out at what he called a "general campaign" in France to discredit Spanish athletes by implying their success is due to the use of illegal drugs.

Speaking to reporters a day after the Spanish tennis federation (RFET) said it would sue French TV broadcaster Canal+ for "unacceptable and damaging insinuations" in a cartoon about Nadal, the world No. 2 said he found the attacks "sad".

"It's the kind of humor that for one day is fine but if it is repeated over and over again it's not right and I think it oversteps the line a bit," Nadal said on Thursday. "I don't think it's just one media, it's a general campaign by the neighboring country," the six-time French Open champion added.

"It's sad to see a campaign like that against something that has cost so much to achieve.

"There's no question of pills or syringes or anything like that I can assure you."

The Canal+ sketch from its show "Les Guignols" showed a life-size likeness of Nadal filling up his car's gas tank from his own bladder. "Spanish athletes. They do not win by chance," is flashed on the screen.

 

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