MARIA SHARAPOVA’S sponsors Head Tennis have controversially tweeted their support for the Russian ace… despite her ban for doping being upheld on Tuesday.
The five-time Grand Slam winner, 29, was initially banned for two years after she was caught taking meldonium – a substance that has been banned since January this year.
Sharapova failed a drugs test at this year’s Australian Open, losing a host of sponsorship deals – as well as her right to play tennis competitively – in the process.
Yet Head stood by her and – on hearing the news her ban had been reduced – said: “Congratulations to @MariaSharapova! #WeStoodWithMaria #headtennis”
The social media gaffe has caused uproar given that the Court of Arbitration for Sport still found her GUILTY of doping.
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Although they felt the two-year sentence was a tad unfair, they still deemed her actions to be illegal.
The court stated: “Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with ‘no significant fault’, she bore some degree of fault.”
Sharapova said she had been taking meldonium, under the brand name Mildronate, for more than a decade to treat an irregular heartbeat, pre-symptoms of diabetes and other conditions.
On the decision to have her ban reduced, Sharapova said: “I’ve gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April.
“In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it. I am counting the days until I can return to the court.
“I have learned from this, and I hope the ITF has as well."
Head later released a full statement, which you can read below...
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