THE glittering career of glamour tennis star Maria Sharapova may be over after revelations the Russian tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The world number six tested positive for Meldonium, a type of heart medication which is taken to improve circulatory blood flow.
Meldonium was added to the WADA banned list at the beginning of the year after the sports body found it has performance-enhancing qualities.
The positive test came in the aftermath of her quarter-final loss to Serena Williams back in January.
According to the International Tennis Federation, Sharapova “will be provisionally suspended with effect from 12 March, pending determination of the case.”
No online bookmaker has suspended any Grand Slam markets on Sharapova.
English bookmaking giants WilliamHill.com still have the world number six as the second favourite to take out the French Open at $7.50.
Sharapova is also the third favourite ($9.00) at WilliamHill to take out the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
At this stage a suspension would leave the 28-year-old unable to compete at Rio, but not everyone is writing off the five-time Grand Slam champion.
Shamil Tarpshchev, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation believes Sharapova will be good to go in Rio.
“I think it’s all nonsense,” Tarpshchev said.
“Athletes take what they’re given by physiotherapists and doctors. I think that Sharapova will play at the Olympics anyway. But we have to see how events develop.”
Whilst the long-term picture is not yet clear, the immediate ramifications for Sharapova are swift and harsh.
Sharapova will be forced to forfeit rankings points and prizemoney from the Australian Open – about $400,000 – after she made the quarter-finals this year.
The positive test could be the end of the 28-year-old’s career, given the penalty for first time offenders is a two-year ban.
Sharapova believes the positive test could have been avoided had she been more vigilant.
“I received an email on 22 December from WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency] about the changes happening to the banned list and you can see prohibited items, and I didn’t click on that link.” Sharapova said.
“I made a huge mistake.”
Sharapova, who admitted to taking the drug for ‘the past 10 years’ said she did so without any intention to cheat, but to battle the onset of hereditary diseases.
“I was getting sick very often and I had a deficiency in magnesium and a family history of diabetes, and there were signs of diabetes. That is one of the medications, along with others, that I received.”
“I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it,”
Despite facing a lengthy spell off the court, Sharapova is determined not to let this be the last time tennis fans see her on the centre stage.
“I have let my fans down, and let the sport down that I have been playing since the age of four that I love so deeply,” she said.
“I know that with this I face consequences and I don’t want to end my career this way. I really hope to be given another chance to play this game.”
How does Sharapova’s potential suspension effect the Grand Slam betting market?
Despite facing the next two years off the WTA tour, both Sportsbet and William Hill are yet to suspend markets on Maria Sharapova for the remainder of the 2016 season.
The world number six has five Grand Slam titles to her name and if available to compete will certainly be at the business end of the remaining three tournaments this year.
Sportsbet’s 2016 Maria Sharapova Grand Slam odds
French Open: $10.00
US Open: $9.00
William Hill’s 2016 Maria Sharapova Grand Slam odds
French Open: $7.00
Wimbledon: $10.00
