Maria Sharapova in Russian Olympic team despite drug ban
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Even though she has been suspended after testing positive for the banned substance Meldonium, Maria Sharapova has been included in the Olympic squad released by the Russian authorities. It was also revealed that a final call would be taken on her participation by the end of this week.
"We will include Sharapova in the team, which we need to announce by 6 June," Shamil Tarpishchev, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and president of the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF), told the R-Sport news agency.
"Whether she competes or not should be decided by the end of the first week of Roland Garros,” she added.
Sharapova had been banned, in one of the most shocking events in tennis history, during the Australian Open early this year after she tested positive for the substance. Meldonium had been added to the list of banned drugs and substances only at the start of January.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had, on 13 April, announced that drug tests, which were conducted before 1st of March and showed less than 1microgram of meldonium, would not lead to any punishment. However, the amount discovered in Sharapova's samples is yet to be revealed.
Maria's career prospects appear bleak despite the minor hope as Tarpishchev earlier said that her situation was "bad" and that she may not play again, reported Reuters.
The Russian team for the quadrennial event comprises Svetlana Kuznetsova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, and Daria Kasatkina along with the fallen star. In case Sharapova is not allowed to play, she will be replaced by Ekaterina Makarova, the fifth-ranked Russian woman, reported Reuters.
It appears the fate of one of modern women's tennis' most charismatic stars will be decided by the end of this week.
