Maria Sharapova’s likely absence from Wimbledon would be “a great shame”, according to the chairman of the All England Club.
But SW19 bosses insist they are tough on illegal drugs after announcing extra anti-doping measures for this year’s tournament.
Former Wimbledon champion Sharapova is facing a suspension after testing positive for banned drug meldonium at the Australian Open.
But AELTC chairman Philip Brook, when asked what impact a ban for the Russian would have on this year’s tournament, said: “It would be a great shame.
“She is a former champion here at Wimbledon, very popular with the crowds.
“It would be a great shame.
“We need to let due process take its course. Then we will see what happens.”
Brook said the AELTC had not considered what it would do regarding Sharapova’s membership of the club if she were found guilty of a doping offence.
Sharapova’s disciplinary hearing is believed to be scheduled for June and if she somehow avoided a ban, she could still compete at this year’s Wimbledon.
Tennis has been rocked this year by Sharapova’s positive test and the match-fixing scandal.
Brook insists the problems were “more an issue of perception than reality” but admits the sport has been hurt.
Brook said: “It’s hard to say it hasn’t been hurt. We hope that people see what measures have been taken.”
The AELTC announced it would be beefing up its anti-programme beyond the requirements of the International Tennis Federation.
But chief executive Richard Lewis said it would be counter-productive to say exactly what additional measures would be taken.
Anti-corruption precautions will also be increased, with video monitoring of all matches including qualifiers and faster analysis of, and reaction to, betting patterns on matches.
Lewis claimed Wimbledon wanted to set a “gold standard” in defending the sport’s integrity.
But he said he did not know whether the AELTC’s total extra spending on anti-doping and anti-corruption measures this year would be greater than the £1.35m increase in player prize money which will take the Wimbledon pot to £28.1m.
The singles champions will each earn £2m this year, up from the £1.88m Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams pocketed in 2015.
But at current exchange rates, that puts Wimbledon third among the Grand Slams, behind the £2.05m the winners received in Australia this year and the £2.27m the 2015 US Open champions earned.
First-round losers in SW19 will trouser £30,000 this year, up from £29,000 in 2015. New wheelchair singles events will also be staged.
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