Maria Sharapova drug test failure 'a sad day for tennis', says Agnieszka Radwanska
Thursday 10 March 2016 09:44, UK
Maria Sharapova's failed drug test was a "sad day for tennis", according to world No 3 Agnieszka Radwanska.
On Monday, Sharapova revealed at a press conference in Los Angeles that she had returned a positive test for meldonium, a substance she had been taking legally taken for 10 years, but which was added to the WADA banned list at the start of 2016.
Former WADA chief Dick Pound described the 28-year-old as "reckless beyond description" and Radwanska says she and the rest of the players on the WTA tour are now waiting to hear what punishment Sharapova will face from the International Tennis Federation.
"It is a sad day for tennis," Radwanska said. "Nobody expected that. We are all waiting to see what they are going to do about it."
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova insists every player must be aware of what they are ingesting and said Sharapova had made a "huge mistake" by not paying more attention to what drugs are on the banned list.
"We should all know what we are putting into our body," she said. "It was a huge mistake and she is taking responsibility for it."
Sharapova revealed she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January, saying she had taken the circulation-boosting drug used to treat heart ailments since 2006, but had not spotted that it was added to the banned list as of January 1.
Sponsors of the world's highest-earning sportswoman immediately distanced themselves, with Nike, Porsche and TAG Heuer all halting their relationships with the former world No 1.
The five-time Grand Slam winner could face a ban of up to four years, although her lawyer John J. Haggerty told the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday that he believed she can plead mitigating circumstances and receive a lesser punishment.
"There is no evidence whatsoever that this was intentional on Maria's behalf," Haggerty said.
According to Forbes, Sharapova earned some £21m in 2015 which made the Russian the highest-earning female athlete in the world for the last 11 years, with her off-court endorsements dwarfing her income from prize money.
Sharapova wrote on her Facebook page that she woke up early on Wednesday morning determined to fight through the scandal and eventually continue her career.
"New day, new start. It is fair to say that this day was not average," Sharapova wrote. "Nothing came to mind at 6am, except that I am determined to play tennis again and I hope I will have the chance to do so.
"I wish I didn't have to go through this, but I do - and I will."
