Sharapova enrolls at Harvard business school amid doping ban
Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova is using her free time to good use as she declared on social media her intention to start a short-course program at Harvard Business School.
Her announcement comes just a few weeks after being booted off the pro circuit for the next two years, after being found positive for meldonium—a heart drug that increases exercise capacity for athletes.
The five-time Grand Slam winner tweeted on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) that she would be attending a two-week program in one of the top-ranked business schools this summer.
“Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can’t wait to start the program!” the 29-year-old wrote, adding a graduation cap symbol along with a photo of herself on a bench marked “Harvard Business School.”
It’s still unclear what course work Sharapova would be completing at the university. A Harvard spokesperson had no immediate comment on her status, according to an ESPN report.
Outside of tennis, the Russian star is a savvy businesswoman who sells the Sugarpova brand of candy, which includes chocolates and gummy snacks, internationally.
Sharapova’s venture toward getting a Harvard business degree won’t be a first for a professional athlete, as former NFL cornerback and president of the NFL Players Association, Domonique Foxworth, recently received an MBA from Harvard.
One of her fiercest rivals, Venus Williams, also earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Indiana University East online last year.
