Maria Sharapova Ban Reduced

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned a two-year suspension that Sharapova received after she tested positive for a banned substance on the WADA (World- Anti-Doping-Agency) list to 15 months

Early in the year Sharapova informed the world that she tested positive for the drug   meldonium at this year’s Australian Open.

Sharapova claimed ignorance for not knowing the drug she had been taking for 10 years for a heart condition, was on the list of banned substances as of January 1st of this year.

As a result of testing positive Sharapova was handed a two-year suspension by the ITF causing her to miss the last three grand slams of the year, as well as other significant tournaments.

The decision was immediately appeal by Sharapova’s lawyers who stated the decision was a “stunning repudiation”, due to what he believed was a lack of notification that meldonium had entered the banned substance list. The CAS agreed to an extent stating in their ruling that Sharapova “bore some fault” but “less than a significant amount of the fault”.

 

For Sharapova it has been a trying time. Since announcing her positive test she has received heavy criticism from tennis fans and from fellow players. Sharapova even lost some endorsement deals.

 

Maria Sharapova Ban Reduced