Sharapova faces a fault?

Nisha Koppala '16, Public Relations

Wimbledon rallied against Russian pro-tennis player, Maria Sharapova, when she publicly announced that she failed her drug test at the 2016 Australian Open the morning of March 7, 2016. The 28-year-old tested positive for a drug named Meldonium which was recently banned in the beginning of 2016 by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sharapova continues to face criticism from the public as her drug use circulates the media.

The match between Sharapova and the Public heated up as name-brand sponsors, like Nike, Tag Huer, and Porche, dropped her from their campaign. According to a recent article published in The Guardian, the five-time grand slam winner was out of a €50 million contract from Nike among several others, and the International Tennis Federation has placed the WTA tour champion on provisional suspension from professional tennis games. In spite of the loss of sponsors, reputation, and status, the Russian superstar has maintained a passionate fan base for her defense.

Many critics investigated the purpose of the drug and the injustice behind the recent ban on the drug. According to a recent article in CNN, Sharapova’s doctor, and a family friend, prescribed the tennis player Meldonium to treat her immunodeficiency, early diabetes indicators, abnormal EKG readings, low magnesium levels, and asthenia, as reported by her attorney. The drug itself has shown to enhance an athlete’s performance, increase rehabilitation, and decrease stress levels, as displayed in a recent study published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis. The agencies called a fault on Sharapova’s illegal play; however, was the call invalid?

Avid fans jump to Sharapova’s defense over the drug revelation. Kristie Hong ‘16 passionately conveys, “It pains me to see people vilifying an honest and hardworking individual who has more than earned the right to remain on tour. Sharapova has fallen prey to society’s victim hunt and is being unjustly hung as an example as a warning to others”.

While there is a strong fanbase, others criticize her actions. Nikhil Akenapalli ‘15 comments, “Although the way Sharapova handled the whole situation has made me respect her even more as a person, I still believe that she may be at fault in this situation”.

Sharapova will have a hearing by an independent tribunal in the coming weeks concerning her suspension period. Fans of the tennis community hope Sharapova will come out with another victory on her sleeve.