TENNIS NEWSMARTINA HINGIS is to return to competition in the Liverpool International Tournament in June despite her drugs ban.

The Swiss player announced her retirement from the game in November after she tested positive for cocaine at Wimbledon last summer.

Although the 27-year-old denied and challenged the findings, the International Tennis Federation rejected her appeal and she was handed a two-year suspension from October 1st, 2007. However, the five-time Grand Slam winner can appear at the tournament at Calderstones Park from June 10th-15th because it is an invitational event and not part of the Women's Tennis Association tour.