 "Will the doping scandal be the end of Maria Sharapova?")
The headlines around Maria Sharapova’s admission of taking performance-enhancing drugs have been focused more on how the sponsors have ditched her. At last count, Nike, Porsche and Tag Heuer have dropped the Russian tennis star. Sharapova claimed that the banned substance – meldonium – was used to treat low magnesium and diabetes. She has been using it for the past 10 years but the substance was added to the banned drugs list only on January 1, 2016.
Somehow the letter stating that the drug is a banned substance -- sent by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) on December 22 – escaped her attention. Now it’s possible that Sharapova, who is known for her meticulousness, is telling the truth. Many people are in fact lauding her for being honest and admitting her guilt. Should she be given the benefit of doubt? Is ignorance a good enough excuse? And the most important question: will tennis actually miss Maria Sharapova?
Sharapova is a great tennis player – you don’t become one of the only 10 women to complete a career Grand Slam without being good at the game at that level. However, Sharapova has never been one of those players who wowed you with her play on the court.
Sharapova’s career, on the other hand, has been dogged by injuries and inconsistencies. Sharapova turned pro in 2001 and since then has won five Grand Slams, has been ranked number one for a total of 21 weeks and collected 35 singles titles in the last 15 years. Ever since the Williams sisters – first Venus and then Serena – started winning Slams, only Justine Henin has won more titles – a total of seven -- than Sharapova.
Since that momentous occasion 12 years ago, Sharapova is arguably the most recognised player in the world. She has racked up endorsement deals by the dozen. In August 2005, Sharapova was ranked as the highest-paid female athlete by Forbes magazine for 11th time in a row. Her nemesis – both on and off-the court – has been Williams and it has been one of the most one-sided rivalry in history. Sharapova, amazingly enough, has never beaten Williams – apart from the annual Forbes list.
Sharapova has been tennis’ pin-up girl for the last decade or so. There was Anna Kournikova before her but she was all style and no substance. Sharapova had glamour but also grit, lots of style and substance as well. Yet, there hasn’t been a career trajectory that follows the path of a true tennis great.
Her admission of guilt comes as a genuine shock and there’s little chance that she is going to escape punishment. Sharapova is a unique case. She has been an underachiever on the court and at the same time a genuine global superstar. She has been a distant second best to Serena and yet the best-known women’s tennis player of the last decade.
There have been cases of athletes being banned from sport and making a comeback. Shane Warne was banned for year in 2003 and some might argue came back as a better player. Martina Hingis tested positive for cocaine in 2007 and is currently ruling the roost, albeit in the doubles format. Sharapova turns 29 and a lengthy career ban might just sound the death knell for her career. Sharapova’s “huge mistake”, however, certainly calls for a ban. Ignorance cannot, and should not, be used as an excuse. The tennis courts might not miss Sharapova as much as the advertising billboards will.
Somehow the letter stating that the drug is a banned substance -- sent by World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) on December 22 – escaped her attention. Now it’s possible that Sharapova, who is known for her meticulousness, is telling the truth. Many people are in fact lauding her for being honest and admitting her guilt. Should she be given the benefit of doubt? Is ignorance a good enough excuse? And the most important question: will tennis actually miss Maria Sharapova?
Sharapova is a great tennis player – you don’t become one of the only 10 women to complete a career Grand Slam without being good at the game at that level. However, Sharapova has never been one of those players who wowed you with her play on the court.
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Women’s tennis in the last ten years has seen one phenomenal player dominating the landscape – Serena Williams. She has been so good at her craft that it’s been unfair on other players. Williams is arguably the greatest tennis player the world has seen in the last 15 years. And this is an era in which Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and now Novak Djokovic have had stellar careers.
Sharapova’s career, on the other hand, has been dogged by injuries and inconsistencies. Sharapova turned pro in 2001 and since then has won five Grand Slams, has been ranked number one for a total of 21 weeks and collected 35 singles titles in the last 15 years. Ever since the Williams sisters – first Venus and then Serena – started winning Slams, only Justine Henin has won more titles – a total of seven -- than Sharapova.
| What is Meldonium? |
| Meldonium is also known as mildronate and is manufactured in Latvia. The drug is only distributed in Baltic countries and Russia. It increases endurance properties and aerobic capabilities of athletes. It is actually used to treat heart patients and increases blood flow. WADA decided to add the drug to the banned list on September 16, 2015 but it came into effect from January 2016. |
Since that momentous occasion 12 years ago, Sharapova is arguably the most recognised player in the world. She has racked up endorsement deals by the dozen. In August 2005, Sharapova was ranked as the highest-paid female athlete by Forbes magazine for 11th time in a row. Her nemesis – both on and off-the court – has been Williams and it has been one of the most one-sided rivalry in history. Sharapova, amazingly enough, has never beaten Williams – apart from the annual Forbes list.
Sharapova has been tennis’ pin-up girl for the last decade or so. There was Anna Kournikova before her but she was all style and no substance. Sharapova had glamour but also grit, lots of style and substance as well. Yet, there hasn’t been a career trajectory that follows the path of a true tennis great.
Her admission of guilt comes as a genuine shock and there’s little chance that she is going to escape punishment. Sharapova is a unique case. She has been an underachiever on the court and at the same time a genuine global superstar. She has been a distant second best to Serena and yet the best-known women’s tennis player of the last decade.
There have been cases of athletes being banned from sport and making a comeback. Shane Warne was banned for year in 2003 and some might argue came back as a better player. Martina Hingis tested positive for cocaine in 2007 and is currently ruling the roost, albeit in the doubles format. Sharapova turns 29 and a lengthy career ban might just sound the death knell for her career. Sharapova’s “huge mistake”, however, certainly calls for a ban. Ignorance cannot, and should not, be used as an excuse. The tennis courts might not miss Sharapova as much as the advertising billboards will.