Is the ITF Making an Example out of Maria Sharapova?

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 9, 2016

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There was no hurry for the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to decide on the length of Maria Sharapova's ban. It had to take enough time not to be reactionary on suspending one of the WTA's most popular players of the 21st century for taking a drug recently added to WADA's prohibited list. No matter what they decided, it would be a precedent, and there would be public scrutiny.

A few days after the French Open celebratory feasts and a couple of weeks before Wimbledon gets under way, the ITF banned Sharapova from tennis for two years (via ESPN.com's Darren Rovell) retroactive to January 26, 2016 when she tested positive for Meldonium—a drug she had taken heavily for the bulk of her career before it was deemed a banned substance in 2016.

Sharapova stated the ban is too harsh, according to statements from a letter she posted on her Facebook page:

While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension. The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The sentence has been pronounced, followed by an immediate rebuttal. The gloves are on, and Sharapova wants to dance and jab. Meanwhile, the ITF would rather sign the scorecard so that its ruling stands.

The next step will be to see if the sentence is reduced to something like one year, which would be a win for Sharapova, or to determine if the ITF's decision will remain final. Perhaps something will be negotiated in the middle, but don't expect the ITF to willingly back into the ropes.

The ITF has to make an example of Sharapova.

 

Why the Sharapova Decision is Crucial


Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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