Maria Sharapova suggested that she "may have been deliberately scapegoated" by the Int'l Tennis Federation after her doping ban was reduced, according to James Gheerbrant of the LONDON TIMES. The Court of Arbitration for Sport cut the original two-year ban imposed by the ITF to 15 months. Asked on U.S. talk show the Charlie Rose Show whether the ITF was trying to make an example of her, Sharapova said, "I never wanted to believe that but I am starting to think that." She also reiterated her claim that she had "not taken the drug to seek a competitive advantage," saying, "I became comfortable with the fact that it was just natural for me to take something that’s completely legal. It’s taken as aspirin in Russia" (LONDON TIMES, 10/5). In London, Tony Paley reported in her first interview since the CAS ruling, Sharapova said, "I got a 24-month suspension but they [ITF] wanted four years for me. I went through the ITF hearing, which was in front of an arbitration panel which was chosen by the ITF. I am at a hearing [in London] knowing the people I am speaking to were chosen by the people I am actually in a fight with. They call that neutral? That is not neutral. CAS is neutral and this is what CAS has awarded to me." In the ruling that accompanied its decision, CAS stated Sharapova’s degree of fault "fell short" of the ITF’s description of "significant" but the player was "still the sole author of her own misfortune." Sharapova’s lawyer, John Haggerty, described the CAS ruling as a "stunning repudiation of the ITF" (GUARDIAN, 10/5).
WELCOME BACK: In London, Simon Briggs wrote WTA head Steven Simon said Sharapova "can expect to receive a spree of wild cards when she returns to the game at the end of April 2017. She will come off the ban without her ratings points and some "questioned whether major tournaments such as Wimbledon and the French Open might turn their back on her because of her doping conviction." Simon: “I think the game will welcome Maria back and I think it should. I don’t speak for the slams, and I won’t want to put them in a position, but Maria has conducted herself with a great deal of integrity" (TELEGRAPH, 10/5).
LEGAL ACTION POSSIBLE: In London, Simon Briggs reported Sharapova’s legal team is "investigating the possibility" of suing the ITF. Haggerty: "Maria was forced to live with the ITF’s bad judgment and faulty conclusions for many months" -- a claim which presumably "underlies the putative lawsuit which he and his colleagues are understood to be preparing." Sources at the ITF indicated that they had "yet to receive a legal challenge from Sharapova’s representatives, and did not expect to do so." Indeed, "there was a sense that Sharapova’s supporters might be overplaying their hand" (TELEGRAPH, 10/4).
ITF HITS BACK: SPORTING LIFE reported the ITF has rejected Sharapova's claim that the hearing into her doping violation was "not neutral." In a statement, the ITF defended its position. It said, "The ITF did not 'try to ban Ms Sharapova for four years.' The ITF took the position that it is the independent tribunal's responsibility to determine what the appropriate sanction should be. This included the decision as to whether Ms Sharapova met the requirements set out in the tennis anti-doping programme -- which are the same as those in the WADA code -- for a reduction from the default four-year suspension for the use of a non-specified substance such as meldonium. The members of the independent tribunal, which consisted of a barrister as chairman and medical and scientific experts as co-members, are appointed by the ITF. However, Ms Sharapova's legal team was given the opportunity to object to any member of that tribunal, and they agreed in writing that they had no such objection" (SPORTING LIFE, 10/5). The BBC reported the ITF said that tennis players "will not be able to plead ignorance if they test positive for banned substances." The ITF said that it would "continue to review" its processes for "communicating changes to the prohibited list to players with the aim of ensuring that no player can claim that they had not been fully informed." Haggerty said that the ITF's decision had been exposed as "pure fiction." He added, "Not only did the tennis anti-doping authorities fail to properly warn Maria, if you compare what the ITF did with how other federations warned athletes of the rule change, it's a night and day difference." Former Wimbledon champion Virginia Wade said that it was "inexcusable" for Sharapova to find herself in this situation. However, Wade added, "She's 100% right. The ITF should be more clear." Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon men's champion, said that the 15-month ban was "just a little bit on the lenient side," although he believed Sharapova did not know the drug was banned (BBC, 10/4).
BACK IN ACTION: The AP reported Sharapova returns to the court for the first time since her doping ban was reduced when she makes her World Team Tennis Smash Hits debut next week in Las Vegas. WTT announced Wednesday that Sharapova will play in the charity event, co-hosted by Billie Jean King and Elton John, on Monday at Caesars Palace. Proceeds go to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. She joins a field that includes John McEnroe, Andy Roddick, Martina Navratilova, Mardy Fish, Mark Philippoussis and Liezel Huber (AP, 10/5).
OPENING UP: Sharapova said to Rose on his PBS show upon hearing her suspension had been reduced, “I knew that the truth of my story and me being upfront and honest from the beginning would get me though this and it did.” Rose asked whether, after an investigation, it was a “repudiation” of the ITF having her suspension reduced. Sharapova: “It is. It’s sad to say that but I think it really is. I feel that in many ways I have this incredible opportunity to play tennis again but what I went through (was difficult).” Sharapova: “My career was never going to end this way, never. From the first day I got that letter that was when I started my comeback." Sharapova said her “sponsors have been incredible and I must admit, it was difficult in the beginning because none of them knew until my announcement.” Sharapova: “From that point of view it was a shock to everyone as I’m sure, but I wanted it to come from me and not from anyone else and that’s why for three days only a small group of people knew about it. Nike made a pretty tough statement and it was hard. I’ve been with them since I was 11 years old. It was aggressive (in their wording of the statement). They’ve been through a lot with athletes and I took it personal because I consider them my family. I have a lot of pride being a part of their family so it took a little bit of time to speak to (Nike CEO) Mark Parker about what happened.” When she did speak with Parker “we had a great conversation and he’s been amazing. All my sponsors have been incredibly supportive.” Sharapova said when asked if she would lose any sponsors, “I hope not” (“Charlie Rose,” PBS, 10/4).
