Russian teenager banned from tennis for nine months following anti-doping breach
Maria Sharapova’s Russian Federation Tour is in danger over the possible match-fixing which could prevent her from competing next month.
Sharapova, the world number one, confirmed her decision to decline her participation in a match at the Qatar Open tournament in Doha, Qatar when she was asked about her match.
Asked how she felt about it Sharapova’s response was: “Sad. I feel sad… I will not play in the Qatar Open next month.”
Sharapova is accused of not fully disclosing her use of performance-enhancing drugs on anti-doping tests during the 2008 French Open final against Venus Williams in Paris. She failed to admit her use of the drugs at a hearing in the Doha Anti-Doping Commission.
Sharapova returned from injury for the final and beat Williams on her return to the top of the world rankings, but lost to her in the French Open final.
Sharapova has been banned from competition for nine months by the IAAF.
Sharapova said the ban was “a slap in the face” but added that there was “nothing he can do”. She added that she was “very disappointed” by the ban.
Sharapova says it is in the best interests of everyone not to allow her to play in Doha in October.
“This is in the best interest of the sport, that you play for the love of the sport because, and for that reason,” she said. “If you don’t play why somebody can play?”
“It is in the best interests of my country, and the sport, that I don’t play for a month. But I would like to play. If I had, I would have played my best. Not the best of last year, but the best.”
“But, if I had one final with my best, that could happen.”