Dan Evans, 28th British tennis player in the world, recalled his one-year penalty for cocaine use and he assured that during that period of time he hated himself.
The Birmingham player tested positive for cocaine in an anti-doping control carried out in April 2017, which earned him a penalty of one year without playing.
Back on the circuit, Evans recalled on the My Sporting Mood podcast, those months off the track.
“When I came back I had trouble entering tournaments and I wasn't getting the help I needed from the people I had helped before”Evans explained, referring to the British Tennis Federation.
“You still reflect on that and think 'it was stupid', but I don't look back and I hate myself like I did during the sanction. During stages of the sanction you are disappointed in what you did, but at some point you have to turn the page. I am grateful when I was able to jump onto the track, “he acknowledged.
In addition, Evans also discussed the help that a sports psychologist gave him.
“I was against seeing a sports psychologist, but the person I worked with was very good, very different from the one I spoke to when I was 16 or 17 years old. He gave me good advice, those sessions were priceless. When I lost, I began to doubt myself, but he told me about the prospect and told me that I had a long time ahead and that everything was not going to happen quickly. “