Paris  - French tennis player Richard Gasquet was expected to comment on Sunday on reports that he failed a drugs test for cocaine at the Miami Masters in March.

French sports daily L'Equipe said on Saturday night that the 22- year-old, who lost in the third round of Rome last week, had traces of the drug in his urine sample.

The number 23 pulled out of Miami with a shoulder injury and out of this week's Estoril tournament with a neck problem. Gasquet will also miss the Madrid Masters.

Reports suggested that Gasquet wants to undergo a hair test to show that he is not a habitual user of the banned substance.

Gasquet faces a ban of up two two years should his B sample also come up positive, and pending any appeal.

The former number seven and one-time Wimbledon semi-finalist began 2009 with semi-finals in Brisbane, Sydney and Dubai in the first two months of the season. (dpa)