Maria Sharapova drugs admission shocks tennis world

The world of tennis has reacted in shock after Maria Sharpova revealed she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

The former world No 1 and five-time Grand slam champion announced on Monday night that she had tested positive for a drug called Meldonium, which was recently added to the banned list.
Sky Sports tennis expert Annabel Croft told Sky Sports News HQ: "The last 24 hours everybody has been gearing up for Maria retiring, thinking about her career and her utter ruthless determination she's shown towards her sport.

                                           

Annabel Croft is blown away by Maria Sharapova's drug admission

"Now this has thrown a spanner in the works. It's come as a complete shock. Knowing the character she is, she will fight it all and go about her business in an utterly professional way like she has done in her tennis.

 

"There will be discussions and meetings and a lot of waiting time. But in terms of the world of tennis it will be a massive shock. She is such a huge name in the world of tennis."
Sharapova, who became Wimbledon champion as a 17-year-old in 2004, admitted she does not know the possible sanctions she will face.

She is the highest-paid female athlete in world sport over the last 11 years, according to Forbes, having earned a large part of her income through sponsor endorsements and her own sweet business, Sugarpova.
Asked whether a ban could curtail her career due to how old she would be when she returns, Croft added: "When you look at what Serena Williams has achieved - she's 34 and still going strong - depending how long the ban will be, knowing the injuries she's had to face and how she's come back, I don't think it would be.
"She's such a professional. That's why it's such a surprise it's happened. If it's a longer ban then it could be difficult.
"Her career has been perfect up until now. She's one of the highest paid athletes and her contracts are worth so much  and she's a major global star. Anything like this is not good for a brand but let's wait for more details of the case."
                                                            
Sky Sports tennis expert Barry Cowan was equally stunned and stated it was a "valuable lesson for other athletes to learn that you are responsible for what you put in your body".
Cowan said: "I'm shocked. It's an amazing sequence of events. Her attention to detail on and off the court is why I've held her in such high esteem, but it's been her undoing on this occasion and she will pay the consequences for it.
"I don't think it will tarnish her image or the sport's image. It's right she will serve a ban but I think things will move quite quickly because she hasn't denied it."
credit skysports