Ulihrach admits to steroid positive

Bohdan Ulihrach, who has been world-ranked as high as No22, has admitted testing positive for nandrolone.

In an interview with a Czech newspaper, Ulihrach said a test during a tournament in Moscow last October showed unacceptable levels of norandrosterone, a metabolite of the banned steroid. The urine test showed 5.2 nanograms per millilitre, fractionally over the 5.0 limit.

Ulihrach's decision to go public about his test is slightly puzzling given that, under Association of Tennis Professionals rules, his name would not have been released for at least another three weeks and then only if the second or B sample also came up positive.

The 27-year-old is awaiting the result of that before deciding whether to appeal. Should the B sample also yield a positive result he could be banned for two years.

His test was carried out under the auspices of the ATP, which has committed to increasing the number of tests players have to undergo both in and out of competition. Last year it tested 880 players during tournaments but only 70 out of competition. The ATP aims to increase in-competition testing by 20% this year and double the rate out of competition.

·Tim Henman has set his sights on a return to action in next month's International Series Gold event in Rotterdam. Failure to recover in time from shoulder surgery forced the British No1 to pull out of the Davis Cup world group tie with Australia, starting next Friday in Sydney.