The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled on Tuesday that Maria Sharapova’s ban has been reduced from 24 months to 15 months. With her suspension retroactive to when she tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open, Sharapova will be eligible to return on April 26 of next season.
In a 28-page decision, the court said it reduced the suspension imposed by the International Tennis Federation because “under no circumstances…can the player be considered to be an ‘intentional’ doper.” The court added that Sharapova acted with “no significant fault.”
The 29-year-old Russian issued the following statement via Facebook:
“The panel wishes to point out that the case it heard…was not about an athlete who cheated,” the CASÂ wrote. “It was only about the degree of fault that can be imputed to a player for her failure to make sure that the substance contained in the product she has been legally taking over a long period, and for most of the time under the basis of a doctor’s prescription, remained in compliance.”
Head, one of four major brands endorsed by Sharapova (also Nike, Porsche and Evian), reacted positively to Tuesday’s news.
“We are very proud to have stood by Maria for the right reasons throughout these difficult and testing times for both Maria and those who have supported her all over the world,” Head chairman and CEO Johan Eliasch stated.
With her suspension down to 15 months, Sharapova will be able to play in the last three Grand Slams in 2016–starting with the French Open in May.
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