Coria, Universal Settle Contamination Suit

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J.Before tennis pro Guillermo Coria was to take the stand on the second day of his trial charging a contaminated multivitamin from Universal Nutrition caused the positive steroid test that disrupted his pro career, the two parties agreed on a settlement. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, and no one involved would talk about the specifics of the agreement.

Coria charged Universal allowed steroids from their other products to contaminate the multivitamin, leading to his two-year ban from pro tennis. On the verge of taking the stand, Coria was armed with details of tests he and his family ordered on the vitamin product; the results of the test led to the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tribunal removing the ban against him.

However, despite arguing against the contamination accusation in front of the jury, Universals lawyer, Richard Grossman, entered into five hours of negotiations with Coria and his lawyers before the second day of proceedings commenced. On announcing the agreement, presiding State Superior Court Judge Bradley J. Ferencz told reporters both parties agreed with the ATP tribunal that the positive test was caused by "inadvertent and unknowing ingestion of a banned substance." Both parties also agreed Universal products were safe as formulated to the label and met all FDA standards.

While there was no further information on the money involved in the settlement, Gavin Forbes, sports management executive with IMG, which represents Coria and many other tennis pros, testified on Tuesday that Coria's suspension for testing positive cost the young pro at least $10 million.