Thursday 27 April 2017 16:12, UK
Eugenie Bouchard has become the latest high profile tennis player to criticise Maria Sharapova who returned to competitive tennis on Wednesday following a 15-month drugs ban.
The Canadian, and former Wimbledon runner-up, also laid into the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), whose rules have allowed Sharapova to resume her career.
The 30-year-old Russian was originally suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium.
Sharapova's suspension was reduced on appeal and Bouchard, who is competing in Istanbul this week, said of the five-time Grand Slam champion: "I don't think that's right.
"She's a cheater and so to me, I don't think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again.
"It's so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. So I just think the WTA sends the wrong message to young kids: you know, cheat and we'll welcome you back with open arms.
"So I don't think that's right. She's not someone I can say I look up to anymore because it's definitely ruined it for me a little bit."
Sharapova admitted she had been using Mildronate, another name for meldonium, for about a decade and was unaware that it had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list at the start of last year
She failed a doping test during the Australian Open of 2016 and is now back on Tour hoping to resurrect her tennis career.
Playing in Stuttgart on a wild card, she beat Roberta Vinci in two tight sets on her return and will learn on May 16 whether she will receive a wildcard for the French Open.
The Madrid and Italian Opens have already provided wild cards, a decision which means Sharapova does not have to pre-qualify for these events, and which has led to criticism from players such as Andy Murray, Caroline Wozniacki and Agnieszka Radwanska.
