The UN Development Programme, which works to eradicate poverty and inequality, has discontinued its nine-year relationship with Sharapova pending the outcome of the case.
Advertisement
The 28-year-old, who was paid a symbolic $1 salary in her role, said at the time that it was one of her “proudest contracts ever”.
According to TMZ, the organisation issued a statement stating “in light of Ms. Sharapova’s recent announcement, we last week suspended her role as a Goodwill Ambassador and any planned activities while the investigation continues”.
United Nations goodwill ambassadors are appointed on the basis that they are “persons of integrity” who “possess the personality and dignity required for such high-level representative capacity”.
Earlier, Sharapova’s family had fled the city of Gomel in Belarus in 1987 after the Chernobyl disaster, moving to Siberia where the tennis star was born.
A page on Sharapova’s activities has been removed from the UNDP website.
In the process, big sponsors including Nike, Swiss watchmaker TAG heuer and German luxury vehicle maker Porsche have cut ties with her.
Maria Sharapova arrives for a press conference announcing a failed drug test after the Australian Open during a press conference today at The LA Hotel Downtown.
Sharapova said she had been taking meldonium for the past 10 years for medical reasons and did not know that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had prohibited its use in January.
A string of other athletes have also failed tests with Sharapova claiming she took the drug for medical purposes and hadn’t realised it had been banned.
Advertisement
“You’d have to have your head in the sand if you didn’t at least assume that every professional sport might have some sort of performing-enhancing drugs being used”, Evert said from Indian Wells, where she is doing TV commentary for ESPN at the BNP Paribas Open.
