The on-court action today in the first round of the women's draw at the Australian Open was overshadowed by the controversy involving fifth-seeded US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.
The 19-year-old was named by Belgian sports minister Claude Eerdekens on Monday as testing positive for the substance ephedrine after a drugs test at an exhibition event last month.
The disclosure sparked uproar today, with WTA Tour chief executive Larry Scott accusing the Belgian official of perpetrating a "tremendous injustice" against the player.
Ephedrine, a stimulant often found in common over-the-counter drug remedies, has been at the centre of several notorious drug controversies in the past but was reclassified last year by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
While ephedrine's use during competition remains prohibited, athletes may now avoid sanction if it is found in their system in the off-season, provided there is a valid reason for its presence, such as ingestion in a cold remedy.
Kuznetsova explained she had taken medicine for a cold during the charity event in Belgium and was not guilty of a doping offence, pointing out that she had passed at least 10 in-competition drug tests last year.
"I pride myself on being a clean athlete of the highest integrity and am offended by these disgraceful accusations," Kuznetsova said in a statement.
"What is true is that at the time of the exhibition match in question, I did have a cold and was taking a cold medicine," she added.
WTA chief Scott, meanwhile, mounted a spirited defence of Kuznetsova, saying there was no chance of the player being punished.
Scott said that as far as the WTA was aware, Kuznetsova had not committed a doping offence, slamming disclosure of the test result as "disgraceful, shameful and irresponsible."
"The reports are saying ephedrine. I want to make clear that under the tennis anti-doping program, ephedrine is not a banned substance when it's out of competition," Scott told a press conference.
"What Svetlana was playing in was a two-day charity exhibition during our off-season. This was not a competition," said Scott, saying the whole sport had been tainted unnecessarily.
"The only reason I'm here is because a tremendous injustice has been done to our players and to our sport."
Meanwhile, Elena Dementieva refused to be distracted by the doping furore to advance safely into the second round.
Dementieva awoke today to find her picture plastered all over local newspapers in connection with the Kuznetsova controversy.
Dementieva and Frenchwoman Nathalie Dechy were dragged into the scandal after Eerdekens initially said one of the three women had tested positive at the exhibition tournament in Charleroi.
Eerdekens later announced that Kuznetsova was the player involved and the Russian sixth seed put the controversy behind her to overcome Alyona Bondarenko of the Ukraine with a straightforward 6-3, 6-3 win. She next faces Russia's Anna Chakvetadze.
All the other big names also encountered few problems today.
Third-seeded French Open champion Anastasia Myskina set the trend in her 6-1, 6-4 victory over Kveta Peschke of the Czech Republic.
Eighth-seeded Venus Williams joined sister Serena in the second round by overcoming Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-1, 7-5 after a patchy display.
"I played okay. It was a first-round match. I think when it really mattered, at the five-all game, I really picked up my game," said Williams, who has now set up a clash with Peng Shaui of China.
Lindsay Davenport, fully recovered after a bout of bronchitis, was more convincing against Spanish veteran Conchita Martinez, the top-seeded American racing through to win 6-1, 6-0.
Davenport, who won the last of her three grand slam titles at the Australian Open five years ago, plays Michaela Pastikova in the second round after the Czech beat Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 6-4 6-4.
There was also a win for highly-rated Australian prospect Alicia Molik, the 10th seed brushing aside Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain, 6-1, 6-3.
