Austrian Davis Cup tennis captain Thomas Muster has named suspended player Stefan Koubek to the team for its opening round match against Australia early next month in Sydney.
Koubek, Austria's top player, was banned for three months after testing positive for a banned substance, triamcinolon acetonid, at the 2004 French Open. His suspension does not end until March 21.
At a news conference Monday, Muster said he hopes an appeal to the International Tennis Federation will reduce Koubek's suspension so he can play against the Aussies March fourth to sixth.Koubek has insisted he did not knowingly take a banned substance.
If Koubek is unable to play, he will be replaced by Marco Mirnegg, 22, who is ranked 308th in the world. He would join Juergen Melzer, Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya on the Austrian team.
Some information for this report provided by AP.
