The Argentinian was given a nine-month suspension and docked ranking points after testing positive for clenbuterol during an ATP tour event in Chile.

Rusedski maintains he has never knowingly taken a performance- enhancing substance but must face an ATP hearing in Montreal on February 9.

If suspended he will join the ignominious list that already includes the likes of Petr Korda and Argentinian pair Juan Ignacio Chela and Guillermo Coria.

But McNamee is confident these are isolated cases and that the strict testing regime in tennis is keeping a lid on the doping problem.

“For having some 200 men and women tested many, many times a year – and certainly at the grand slams – I think the record in tennis is very, very good,” McNamee told reporters in Perth.

“I don’t see any evidence of any problem when you consider the amount of testing that goes on in this sport.

“But in life there’s always going to be some problems and people found guilty.”

McNamee said Rusedski would be “welcome in Melbourne” for the Australian Open despite the positive test.

The rules state Rusedski is free to play on until his hearing on February 9 and after widespread rumours that he might return home, the 30-year-old flew into Sydney from Adelaide today.

Rusedski will take his place in the draw for the adidas International which starts on Sunday at Olympic Park, the traditional Australian Open warm-up event.

In his only public statement today, made in Adelaide, Rusedski said: “I just want to continue to enjoy my tennis and play my tennis in Australia.

“That is why I decided to come down here and play, because I know I am innocent.”