The head of the Russian Tennis Federation has said that he is not confident that Maria Sharapova will return to tennis following her failed drugs test.
Sharapova hasn’t played a match on the tour since the Australian Open after testing positive for Meldonium, a substance which was banned on January 1st this year. The former world No.1 will attend a hearing with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) regarding the case and a decision is estimated to be made within the next two months.
Throughout the case Sharapova has received support from the chief of Russian tennis, Shamil Tarpischev. The official has also spoken positively about the case and even mentioned the chance of Sharapova playing in this year’s Olympic Games.
The optimistic words of Tarpischev have now taken a dramatic turn following his latest interview with R-Sport, one of the leading sporting websites in Russia. Tarpischev has said for the first time in an interview that he is unsure if Sharapova will ever return to the sport following the doping incident.
“”It is doubtful that Maria Sharapova will continue her professional career,” Mr Tarpischev was quoted by R-Sport as saying.
“She is in a really bad situation.”
It is unclear as to what has prompted such a sudden change in tone by the head of Russian tennis.
The remarks contradict Sharapova’s vow to play tennis again. In March she told the media that she was ‘determined to play tennis again‘. The 29-year-old has always maintained her innocence during her suspension by arguing that she was unaware that meldonium was added to the list of banned substances.
The details surrounding Sharapova’s case are limited. It is still unknown as to how much of the banned substance was detected in Sharapova’s failed sample. The date of the hearing is also uncertain. Multiple news agencies have reported that it will start this week in London, however, Tarpischev has denied this.
Sharapova could face a ban of up to four years if she is found guilty.
