RETIRED Wimbledon tennis umpire Terry King says he is convinced Greg Rusedski is innocent of the drugs charge levied at him.

Mr King, of Bankside, Old Town, believes officials in the tennis world will end up with "very red faces" once the Rusedski affair is resolved.

The 76-year-old, known for his campaign to stop development on the Front Garden, umpired at Wimbledon for 19 years, overseeing matches between tennis greats such as Boris Becker and John Lloyd.

Rusedski admitted to failing a drugs test for the steroid nandrolone on Thursday.

Mr King said: "I am sure Greg would never knowingly take something which he knew was banned.

"I can't believe he would take something deliberately. I just can't believe it. I am absolutely certain he will be proven innocent."

Mr King has been involved in the tennis world for 60 years and knows both Rusedski and Britain's number one Tim Henman.

Rusedski, the nation's number two, who still plans to play in the Australian Open in a week's time has been defiant in his defence. He is accusing the Association of Tour Professionals (ATP), the governing body of the men's game, of covering up "one of the biggest scandals to surface in world sport" and Mr King echoes this view.

"I suspect there are going to be some very red faces among the officials of the tennis world when the truth comes out," said Mr King.

"It's difficult to say exactly what the outcome will be but it sounds as if a supplement which has been recommended by officials has turned out to have something in it which is not safe.

"If that is the case I can't believe they will penalise all the players. I think they will have to back down."

Rusedski has raised serious concerns about the ATP's administration of the men's game and its anti-doping regime.

In July last year the ATP admitted that mineral supplements provided to leading players by ATP-approved coaches were the cause of positive nandrolone samples.

Rusedski claims tests on 47 of the world's top 120 tennis players have shown elevated levels of nandrolone. He believes the ATP has singled him out.

Mr King said: "These players are constantly tested for drugs. Tests can occur before, during or after training or competitions.

"Players have to be terribly careful about what they take these days. But how do you know exactly what is in everything you eat or drink?

"They obviously take advice from doctors and nutritionists, but regrettably you are responsible for your own body at the end of the day."

Rusedski has not yet explained how his sample contained almost five nanograms of nandrolone, more than twice the legal limit.

He is due to face a disciplinary hearing in Montreal on February 9.

Emma-Kate Lidbury