Former No. 1 Rios asks for doping check of Korda from 1998

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile officials will back a request by former world No. 1 Marcelo Rios to have the International Tennis Federation investigate whether Petr Korda committed a doping violation in the 1998 Australian Open.

Korda beat Rios 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the final.

Korda tested positive for a banned steroid later that year at Wimbledon, but wasn't penalized for it until after he retired in mid-1999.

"Chile Tennis Federation will support Marcelo because he's the best player in Chile's history," Rodrigo Valdebenito, a spokesman for the federation told The Associated Press on Thursday.

Valdebenito also said the federation would request the probe in the coming months.

Rios has said he wants to receive the title if its proven Korda violated doping rules. Rios reached his only grand slam final in Australia. He retired in 2004.

___

Follow Luis Andres Henao on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao