Maria Sharapova’s racket sponsor Head has announced that unlike many of her other sponsors it will stand by her, choosing to renew their contract.
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Pound said on Wednesday Sharapova only had herself to blame for not realising meldonium, which some researchers have linked to increased athletic performance and endurance, had been outlawed since January 1.
Murray said: “I find it odd that there’s a prescription drug used for heart conditions and so many athletes competing at the top level of their sport would have that condition”.
“I think he would have been pretty happy about 18 months ago when some of the best players in the world said: “Look, it could be better if we were tested more” – the Federers and the Murrays of this world. Maria may have made a mistake but she has earned the benefit of the doubt and we are extending it to her”.
She added that Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) had sent her an email on 22 December informing her of changes to the banned list, but she had failed to “click” on the link that would have listed the prohibited items.
“Sharapova has been a USA resident since early in her career, which does bring in a question of how or why she is using a drug that is not licensed there”, said Tom Bassindale, a lecturer in forensic science at Sheffield Hallam University.
“As a physician, this is not something I have, or would ever, prescribe”, he said.
FILE – In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, file photo, Maria Sharapova of Russian Federation celebrates after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, A. “We have a good anti-doping program and the players who are not doing the right things are going on trial, so we will see how it goes”.
Danone, which owns Evian, said it was shocked by the news and would closely follow the investigation. “She was warned in advance I gather”.
According to The International Tennis Federation, Sharapova will be provisionally suspended pending determination of the case.
Maria Sharapova’s lawyer is confident he can secure a lenient punishment for the Russian superstar who stunned global sport with her drug test failure confession. She faces a possible four-year ban from tennis.
She has acknowledged it was a mistake and now she’s hoping the sanction will be as low as possible.
Despite having a huge entourage, which would include an agent, coach, physiotherapist – and doctor – Nadal added it was up to Sharapova to know what exactly she was putting in her body. Tennis has managed to steer clear of doping scandals which have tainted many reputations across sporting, national and even socio-economic boundaries – from Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson to American cycler Lance Armstrong to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona.
The fact is that Sharapova was using something to help her compete, and only held a press conference to admit it because she had no other choice.
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In a Facebook post Wednesday, the 28-year-old tennis pro penned, “I woke up yesterday morning with an inbox, in full capacity of love and compassion.In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans”.
