Sponsors shy away from Sharapova after failed drugs test

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said Sharapova would be provisionally suspended from March 12. 

The five-time Grand Slam winner could face up to a four-year ban. Sharapova, 28, said Monday she tested positive for meldonium, a medication used to treat heart and circulatory conditions. Three sponsors decided either to suspend or not renew ties with the player.

US sporting goods giant Nike said it "decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues."

Watchmaker TAG Heuer said it scrapped plans to extend a testimonial deal that had ended last year. 

"In view of the current situation, the Swiss watch brand has suspended negotiations, and has decided not to renew the contract with Ms Sharapova," a spokeswoman said. 

Porsche, which sponsors next month's Stuttgart tennis tournament and for whom Sharapova is a marketing ambassador, told dpa: "Until further details are released and we can analyse the situation we have decided to postpone planned activities."

 

Link to VDO: http://www.thestartv.com/?post_type=episodios&p=31940?program=daily-news-2016-7-mar-13-mar&season=8-mar

 

 

Russia's sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, expressed hope that Sharapova would be allowed to play again.

"I feel sorry for Maria. I hope that we will once again see her on the court. We are prepared to support her," he said in comments carried by Russian state news agency TASS.

"She's been travelling around for tournament after tournament. She's had the most rigorous schedule. Those in her team should have kept better track of her affairs."

Among reaction to the news, Sharapova's former coach Nick Bollettieri said her failed drugs test is "a game changer for life, not just for tennis."

He told the BBC he was shocked the former world number one had tested positive because "she has always been above board in everything". But the 84-year-old American added: "Everybody must accept responsibilities for everything they do in life. "The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) referred to the ITF investigations and said it would not comment further. 

Meldonium was added to the 2016 prohibited list after it had been on WADA's monitoring programme in 2015. It was added to the list "because of evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance," WADA said. 

Sharapova said she took the drug for medical reasons over a period of 10 years, and was not aware that it had become banned under WADA regulations on January 1.

"I failed the test and take full responsibility for that," she said. "For the past 10 years, I have been given a medicine called mildronate by my family doctor ... and it also has another name of meldonium, which I did not know," Sharapova said. "For 10 years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had been legally taking the medicine," she said. Sharapova, the highest-earning woman in all of sport, last competed six weeks ago at the Australian Open, where she lost to Serena Williams in the quarter-finals. 

She had already withdrawn from the Indian Wells Masters, an event she won in 2006 and 2013, which is set to begin this week. She burst onto the WTA in 2004 by winning Wimbledon at age 17,becoming the third-youngest Wimbledon champion. She won the US Open in 2006, the Australian Open in 2008 and finished off her career title sweep of all four majors in 2012 with a trophy at Roland Garros, adding a second French honours in 2014.

 

- DPA