Sharapova sponsors step back after failed drugs test revelation

WADA chief says tennis star has no excuse for failing drugs test

Maria Sharapova has been “reckless beyond description” in failing a drugs test, according to former World AntiDoping Agency (WADA) chief Dick Pound.

The cost to Sharapova of her positive test for meldonium became clearer on Tuesday as three major sponsors distanced themselves from her.

The Russian dropped the bombshell at a press conference in LA on Monday and is now waiting to find out what sanction she will face.

Pound said: “Running a $30 million business depends on you staying eligible to play tennis.

You are taking something on a list, which you have known about for four months.

I am sorry, that is a big mistake – of course she should have known.”

Meldonium was added to the WADA banned list at the start of 2016.

Pound added: “Any time there is a change to the list, notice is given on 30 September prior to the change.

“You have October, November, December to get off what you are doing.

“All the tennis players were given notification of it and she has a medical team somewhere. “That is reckless beyond description.” Nike swiftly suspended its contract with the five-time grand slam champion, with watchmaker Tag Heuer and Porsche following suit.

A statement from the sportswear giant read: “We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova.

“We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues.

“We will continue to monitor the situation.”

Tag Heuer has severed ties altogether, while Porsche, who signed Sharapova as its first global endorser in 2013, has postponed its sponsorship.

The Russian has been the highestearning female athlete in the world for the last 11 years, with her off-court endorsements dwarfing her income from prize money.

According to Forbes, the 28-year-old earned £21m in 2015.

Among her other sponsors, Evian stuck by her while cosmetics firm Avon declined to comment.

With the assembled media expecting a retirement announcement on Monday, Sharapova revealed she had tested positive for meldonium following her quarter-final defeat against Serena Williams at the Australian Open in January.

Sharapova claimed she had not read the updated list of banned substances sent to athletes in December and took “full responsibility” for her actions.

She is one of a number of Russian athletes to have fallen foul of the new rules on meldonium.

A study has reportedly shown the drug was present in the system of 17% of Russians tested and 2.2% of all athletes.

Sharapova claimed she was prescribed meldonium, also known as mildronate, by her doctor in 2006 to deal with health issues such as an irregular heartbeat and a history of diabetes in her family.

One of the other major questions arising is why Sharapova was prescribed a medicine that is not licensed in the USA, where she has been based since the age of seven.

The drug company that manufacturers it, meanwhile, has reportedly stated it should normally only be taken for between four and six weeks at a time.

Sharapova has waived the right to have her B sample tested and she and her team will instead hope everything she has done so far will limit the sanction she is given.

Any time there is a change to the list, notice is given on 30 September prior to the change. DICK POUND WADA

Picture: Getty Images. Sharapova during the press conference at which she announced she had failed a drugs test.