Rafael Nadal might sue French puppet television show over drug-related skit

The French television show “Les Guignols” is a popular satirical puppet show that makes light of current events and professional athletes.

However, they recently got themselves into hot water after airing a sketch featuring a puppet version of tennis champion, Rafael Nadal. Nadal is currently mulling over a lawsuit against the show and the station who aired it (Canal Plus) for the drug allegations within the sketch.

The sketch itself features a puppet version of Nadal pulling up to a gas station and buying a bottle of water. Instead of using gas to fill up the car, the puppet urinates into the gas tank and speeds away. After that the translated words, “Spanish athletes – they do not win by chance” appear on the screen as Nadal is eventually caught by police officers for going over the speed limit:

Nadal said: ‘It is the kind of humour that for one day is fine but if it is repeated over and over again it’s not right and I think it oversteps the line a bit.”I don’t think it’s just one media, it’s a general campaign by the neighbouring country. It’s sad to see a campaign like that against something that has cost so much to achieve.’

Insisting that he is completely clean of drugs, the six times French Open winner said: ‘There’s no question of pills or syringes or anything like that I can assure you.’

The show is also in trouble with the Spanish tennis federation for using their logo without permission in the sketch.

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Rafael Nadal slams French puppet show for “unacceptable drug skits” [Daily Mail]