Sharapova slams ITF for failing to warn on banned substance
Maria Sharapova hit out at tennis authorities on Friday for failing to warn her that a drug she had been taken had become a banned substance.
Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, had an initial two-year suspension by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) reduced to 15 months after she tested positive at the 2016 Australian Open for meldonium.
This was a medication the Russian had been taking when it was within the rules but which was later reclassified as a prohibited drug. “Why didn’t someone come up to me and have a private conversation, just an official to an athlete, which would have taken care of the confidentiality problem they talked about later?” Sharapova told The Times.
However, she did accept she had become “complacent”, saying she was responsible for failing the drug test.
“Ultimately the fault was mine,” she added. “I had been getting clearance on everything I was taking for seven years and I became complacent.”
Sharapova is set to make her return to competitive tennis at the WTA Stuttgart Grand Prix, which starts on April 24.
KAZAKH ARASHOV GETS TWO-YEAR DOPING BAN
Kazakhstan teenager Arsan Arashov has been banned for two years after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, the ITF announced on Thursday. The 17-year-old, ranked 1,729th in the world, failed a test at an ITF event in Gandia, Spain in early July last year, with his suspension backdated to September 30, 2016.
SOCK TOPPLES HAAS TO REACH QUARTERS
Top seed and former winner Jack Sock defeated Germany’s Tommy Haas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the US Clay Court Championships on Thursday. He will next face sixthseeded Feliciano Lopez of Spain, who beat Chung Hyeon of South Korea in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 6-1.
Sock is seeking his third title of the year to go with victories at Delray Beach, Florida and Auckland, New Zealand.
The 2015 champ in this event, Sock is one of four Americans seeded in the tournament’s top five.
Number-two seed John Isner survived an upset bid from qualifier Leonardo Mayer of Argentina with a 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 win in a contest that lasted over two hours. Isner will face wildcard Ernesto Escobedo in the quarters.
Sam Querrey, the third seed, cruised to a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Argentine Horacio Zeballos to reach the quarters for the thirdstraight year.
INDIAN NAVY CROWNED KABADDI CHAMPIONS
Indian Navy overcame the challenge from ONGC to win the All India Pro Kabbadi tournament on Friday. In a close encounter, the navy outfit managed to defeat their opponents with a narrow score of 39-37 after leading 19-17 at the break. Earlier in the semifinal, Indian Navy beat Nashik Army 35-21 to book their place in the final where as ONGC defeated Central Railway 40-26.. My West Indies friend Sunil Narine has a house in Trinidad that is painted pink. I haven’t been to his den but some other KKR members have. They inform me that Sunil has a seven to eight feet high trophy cabinet in his living room. Just like all of you, I too thought there would be plenty of silverware he’d have bagged for his bowling exploits. But sorry sir, we’re all off the mark.
It came as a revelation that the cabinet has more trophies for his batting acts than bowling. I couldn’t believe that. To verify it, I checked with Sunil himself. Normally a restrained individual, he sprang to life, adjusted his T-shirt collar, cleared his throat and his eyes widened before he confirmed: “Yeah skipper, there are more trophies for batting than bowling in the cabinet back home.”
On Thursday evening at Eden Gardens he won another Man-of- the-match award against Kings XI Punjab for an all-round show. But trust me he will tell you it was more for his batting than bowling. Well done Sunny, for scoring an 18-ball 37 besides bowling four overs for 19 runs and taking a wicket.
UMESH’S CLARITY
Credit should also go to the entire support staff that was convinced about this call. After the injury to Chris Lynn, we wanted to try someone who could go hard at the opposition up front. Sunil seemed the best option as he has done this in the Big Bash league as well.
I am also proud of my teammate Robin Uthappa, who was a perfect team man. He is a regular opener in the team but he gladly gave way, first to Lynn and now to Sunil. I can tell you from experience that there are few batsmen who would let go of their batting position. Well done, Robin!
I am also proud of Umesh Yadav. He bowled a game-changing over, and importantly took out the dangerous Maxwell and Miller.
We met at breakfast on Thursday morning. I asked him to come out of the Test match mode and think T20. His reply was