Tennis players rocked by Sharapova’s admission
by Agency Staff,
2016-03-10 10:42:55.0
INDIAN WELLS — Tennis professionals rocked by Maria Sharapova’s admission that she had failed a drug test are now waiting to see what sanction the Russian superstar will face.
Sharapova’s positive test for meldonium was the talk of the locker room as the hard-court tournament at Indian Wells got under way on Wednesday.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she was "shocked" and world No 3 Agnieszka Radwanska described it as a "sad day for tennis". Radwanska said she was in the locker room in Indian Wells with a group of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) players getting ready to train for this week’s tournament in southern California when she heard the news on Monday.
"It is a sad day for tennis," Radwanska said. "Nobody expected that. We are all waiting to see what they are going to do about it."
Czech Kvitova said Sharapova had made a "huge mistake" by not paying more attention to what drugs were on the banned list.
"We should all know what we are putting into our bodies," she said. "It was a huge mistake and she is taking responsibility for it."
Sharapova announced on Monday that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January, saying she had taken the circulation-boosting drug used to treat heart ailments since 2006, but had not spotted that it was added to the banned list as of January 1.
Sponsors of the world’s highest-earning sportswoman immediately distanced themselves, with Nike, Porsche and TAG Heuer all halting their relationships with the former world No 1.
The five-time Grand Slam winner could face a ban of up to four years, although her lawyer John J Haggerty told the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that he believed she can plead mitigating circumstances and receive a lesser punishment.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that this was intentional on Maria’s behalf," Haggerty said.
Sharapova, whose on-court prowess and business savvy have brought her an estimated personal fortune of $200m, wrote on her Facebook page that she woke up early on Wednesday morning determined to fight through the scandal and eventually continue her career.
"New day, new start. It is fair to say that this day was not average," Sharapova wrote. "Nothing came to mind at 6am, except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so.
"I wish I didn’t have to go through this, but I do — and I will."
Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam titles, said Sharapova’s positive test was a black eye for the sport.
"It is terrible news for our sport," Nadal said. "It is terrible because our sport must be clean and look clean.
"The good news is we have a good anti-doping programme."
Most of the players who spoke to reporters on Wednesday chose their words carefully, most expressing shock but adding that it was up to the individual to check which drugs were on the banned substance list.
The women’s main draw at Indian Wells began on Wednesday while the men kick off their first round Thursday in one of the biggest events of the season outside of the four Grand Slams.
Kvitova said Sharapova’s failed test showed that the doping control officials were on top of things.
"This is an example that they are doing everything to have a clean sport. I think the system is working."
Former US Open singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova said Sharapova should not be tried in public and her fate should be left in the hands of tennis officials.
"First of all, I want to say that Maria is a great athlete and even this ‘strange mistake’ will not be able to outshine all of what she has achieved in tennis," Russia’s Kuznetsova said on her Twitter account.
"And most importantly none of us, especially me, have no rights to comment on this story — not to criticise or evaluate Maria. The doping agency has to see this case not others."
In first round women’s action on Wednesday, Heather Watson, who is fresh from her win at the Monterrey Open on Sunday, outlasted Galina Voskoboeva 7-6 (7/4) 4-6 6-1, Dominika Cibulkova breezed past Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-0 and Yulia Putintseva pounded Peng Shuai 6-0 6-1.
AFP
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova addresses a press conference in Los Angeles, California, the US, on Monday night. Picture: EPA/MIKE NELSON
INDIAN WELLS — Tennis professionals rocked by Maria Sharapova’s admission that she had failed a drug test are now waiting to see what sanction the Russian superstar will face.
Sharapova’s positive test for meldonium was the talk of the locker room as the hard-court tournament at Indian Wells got under way on Wednesday.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said she was "shocked" and world No 3 Agnieszka Radwanska described it as a "sad day for tennis". Radwanska said she was in the locker room in Indian Wells with a group of Women's Tennis Association (WTA) players getting ready to train for this week’s tournament in southern California when she heard the news on Monday.
"It is a sad day for tennis," Radwanska said. "Nobody expected that. We are all waiting to see what they are going to do about it."
Czech Kvitova said Sharapova had made a "huge mistake" by not paying more attention to what drugs were on the banned list.
"We should all know what we are putting into our bodies," she said. "It was a huge mistake and she is taking responsibility for it."
Sharapova announced on Monday that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January, saying she had taken the circulation-boosting drug used to treat heart ailments since 2006, but had not spotted that it was added to the banned list as of January 1.
Sponsors of the world’s highest-earning sportswoman immediately distanced themselves, with Nike, Porsche and TAG Heuer all halting their relationships with the former world No 1.
The five-time Grand Slam winner could face a ban of up to four years, although her lawyer John J Haggerty told the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that he believed she can plead mitigating circumstances and receive a lesser punishment.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that this was intentional on Maria’s behalf," Haggerty said.
Sharapova, whose on-court prowess and business savvy have brought her an estimated personal fortune of $200m, wrote on her Facebook page that she woke up early on Wednesday morning determined to fight through the scandal and eventually continue her career.
"New day, new start. It is fair to say that this day was not average," Sharapova wrote. "Nothing came to mind at 6am, except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so.
"I wish I didn’t have to go through this, but I do — and I will."
Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who has won 14 Grand Slam titles, said Sharapova’s positive test was a black eye for the sport.
"It is terrible news for our sport," Nadal said. "It is terrible because our sport must be clean and look clean.
"The good news is we have a good anti-doping programme."
Most of the players who spoke to reporters on Wednesday chose their words carefully, most expressing shock but adding that it was up to the individual to check which drugs were on the banned substance list.
The women’s main draw at Indian Wells began on Wednesday while the men kick off their first round Thursday in one of the biggest events of the season outside of the four Grand Slams.
Kvitova said Sharapova’s failed test showed that the doping control officials were on top of things.
"This is an example that they are doing everything to have a clean sport. I think the system is working."
Former US Open singles champion Svetlana Kuznetsova said Sharapova should not be tried in public and her fate should be left in the hands of tennis officials.
"First of all, I want to say that Maria is a great athlete and even this ‘strange mistake’ will not be able to outshine all of what she has achieved in tennis," Russia’s Kuznetsova said on her Twitter account.
"And most importantly none of us, especially me, have no rights to comment on this story — not to criticise or evaluate Maria. The doping agency has to see this case not others."
In first round women’s action on Wednesday, Heather Watson, who is fresh from her win at the Monterrey Open on Sunday, outlasted Galina Voskoboeva 7-6 (7/4) 4-6 6-1, Dominika Cibulkova breezed past Katerina Siniakova 6-2 6-0 and Yulia Putintseva pounded Peng Shuai 6-0 6-1.
AFP
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