An overzealous father who drugged his children's tennis opponents in order to boost their chances of winning, has been sentenced to eight years in prison.

Christophe Fauviau, 46, who was found guilty of "premeditated administration of a harmful substance that caused death without intention to do so", had admitted to putting medicine in players' drinks.

One such victim was Alexandre Lagardere, a 25-year-old man who died in a car accident in July 2003 after falling asleep at the wheel. An autopsy found he had consumed Temesta, an anti-depressant he was not known to take.

The prosecutor in the case, Serge Mackowiack, had asked for eight to 10 years imprisonment - below the 20 years maximum for the charge of unintentionally causing death by administering toxic substances. He claimed that Fauviau, a retired military pilot, was once a good soldier, and that he did not intend on killing the players intentionally.

A tearful Fauviau asked his victims for forgiveness during his testimony.

"Not for one second did I think of hurting people. I realize now that I did," the 46-year-old former military pilot said.

"I would like to say to you that I did not think for a single second of hurting people. I am responsible for Alexandre's accident. I will always carry that with me. I ask for forgiveness."