Chilean officials say they 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 penalised 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 AP on Thursday.

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

Rios has said he wants to receive the title if it’s proven Korda violated doping rules.