tennis

More sponsors keep backing Sharapova despite 2-year ban

23 Comments
By ERIC WILLEMSEN

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23 Comments
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She admitted taking the banned substance after it was banned and she admitted to not reading the information/rules on banned substances from WADA. How is being punished unfair? Ignorance of the law is no excuse.

-2 ( +8 / -10 )

More sponsors keep backing Sharapova despite

That's good and hope more and more posters here will support Maria !

4 ( +10 / -6 )

She has done a good job trying to act innocent and any performance boost might have been dubious, but pro athletes should think about the money and career they are risking when they put stuff in their bodies.

2 years unfairly harsh? Who cares, don't take drugs and you don't need to worry about it.

-6 ( +7 / -13 )

So, today did any of the rest of you sell your TAG Heuer watch and Porsche 911? I must admit I don't own the watch (can't tell time), but the car was on my list of replacements for my current set of wheels, and it's no longer under consideration. I, like some14some, hope more posters support her. This whole issue is a farce, and just because a big name is attached to it, it's a big (NOT) deal.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Its not about the sport, its about the money, Stupid

Forrest Gump
4 ( +4 / -0 )

I wonder if the companies, the media, and the internet would be as understanding to Serena in the exact same situation. I doubt it! The drug she was using was banned because it boosts your energy levels and long-term stamina. It definitely gives an athlete an advantage especially in tennis tournaments. Russian athletes having been cheating like this and worse for decades.

These companies are just hoping the suspension will be reduced, but I hope it isn't. Her tennis success has been scripted by the media.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

She is a DOPER A DOPER A DOPER for over a DECADE!!

The ban is a great decision & proper.

I cant believe so many here support this drug user WTF!

So are you also going to push to have Ben Johnsons gold medal from back in the Seoul Olympics to be re-instated????

Plus the others that are likely to lose theirs from the London & Beijing Olympics......

Well...............thought NOT! End of story she is CLEARLY guilty as charged!!

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

All because she has a pretty face.

$$$$$$$$$$

5 ( +6 / -1 )

@some14some Support Maria for what? For deceiving her supporters? Have you read about the cocktails of drugs she had been taking for many years? Is that an athlete to be supported?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

How can someone ban her when she is still so young and beautiful?

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Haha the good old 'not intentional' stuff! "Sure meldonium did help me but i didnt know it would, could have gone either way really". Yeah right.

Love sponsors hypocrisy too. Bottom line is a beautiful yet banned Maria still sells.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

She was prescribed mildronate. She had been taking it to combat a magnesium deficiency, heart problems and because of a family history of diabetes.

Haters gonna hate.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

She had been taking it to combat a magnesium deficiency, heart problems and because of a family history of diabetes.

Who with 'heart problems' in their twenties opts to compete at the highest level in a sport that exerts high demands on the cardiovascular system?

I'm going to enter the next Olympics as a long-distance track runner, but I'm going to ask to be allowed to use a bicycle to help me get to the finish line because I have 'leg problems' (they don't move fast enough on their own).

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Cleo, can you get one of those bikes with a seat on the back for me, I'd like a gold medal too.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

She's still beautiful; she's still bankable; of course the sponsors would still bank on her.

But if it's any other not-as-beautiful player in the exact same situation, this won't happen.

And god forbid it's Serena, calling for her head would be an understatement.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

She can play with words and find a good lawyer but on the principles of the situation, she's wrong. She has no excuse that can defend what she's done. At least the good news to come out of all of this is that the anti-doping program is working and that even if you're among the best players you're going to get caught and it's going to get out.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She knew the rulss and didn't make sure, same for her coach, doctor and so on.

Might be time to consider a change in her career choice.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

So, let me get this straight. A drug which is okay today, but added to the banned substance list tomorrow, EVERY athlete needs to check the list EVERY day? BS to be sure. Maria did not do this intentionally, and she should not be punished for it. Kudos to Evian and Head and others for being smart enough to know it was an oversight. Shame on all of you thinking she needs this suspension.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

So, let me get this straight. A drug which is okay today, but added to the banned substance list tomorrow, EVERY athlete needs to check the list EVERY day?

Not everyday - the banned list is usually updated once a year. And the athletes are given notice when the list is updated. It's the athlete's responsibility to check the updated list - they all know this.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Roger Federer has recently stated that he agrees with the "zero tolerance policy" for Sharapova. We just learned, yesterday, that only her agent and her doctor knew that she was taking this 'banned' drug --- she hid that info from her Coach, Trainer, Physio and Nutrionist, as well!!! Sounds to me like a closet/very secretive alcoholic or drug addict that is willing to cheat to win at any cost!!! That is very much like the entire Russian sports program...WADA knew, from a tip in 2015, that they had a doping issue after the Azerbaijan Games testing --- 66 athletes tested positive but only 23 would even admit to taking the drug. This drug was developed by a Latvian doctor as a 'performance enhancer' for the Soviet troops fighting 'at altitude' in Afghanistan...Hitler's elite troops, and the Feurher himself (5-times per day), used 'speed' as their drug of choice...She knew exactly what she was doing, the drug is illegal in Florida, where she lives 90% of the time and the maximum dose is 4-6 weeks per year, not for a decade!!

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Looking the facts it is obvious that athletes taking the drug knew it was helping them, period! Now that Sharapova didn't stop it in time is a problem on various levels - as we see with the sponsors. If the drug was not in the list till now though nobody can call her a doper - she broke the rule only for few months but at what a cost...

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Given Sharapova's age, I'm not sure if the sponsors staying on is such a good idea. By the time her ban ends, she may be too old to be competitive against a new generation of female tennis players, a number of whom have been showcased in the last year or so.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

She is a druggie and a CHEAT PERIOD!! The sponsors who still back here, shame on them!!

She doped on this drug for a decade or so a HABITUAL CHEATER!

Her career should be pretty much over as is, she needs to start something new, if she was so cool with this drug WHY DIDNT she have them sponsor her & where their name on her kit!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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