International Tennis Federation (ITF) president David Haggerty has refrained from hitting out at Maria Sharapova as the heated debate concerning her return continues.
The former world No.1 will return to action in Stuttgart last this month after serving a 15-month doping suspension. Sharapova was originally slammed with a 24-month ban by the ITF for testing positive for meldonium before winning an appeal for a reduction.
Sharapova’s return to the tour has sparked fierce criticism from some of her rivals. Stuttgart officials have allowed her to play her first match on the Wednesday, the same day her ban ends. Before the Wednesday, she is prohibited from entering the grounds of a WTA event. World No.1 Angelique Kerber has described the decision as ‘strange’ and expressed frustration over a wildcard not being given to a German player instead. Meanwhile, Caroline Wozniacki has branded the approach as ‘disrespectful.’
Muscling in on a topic that have divided the sport, Haggerty has refused to condemn either Stuttgart or Sharapova. During an interview with Inside The Games, the ITF boss believes that Sharapova has learned her lesson. Haggerty then suggested that Sharapova’s doping violation is a something younger players on the tour ‘can learn from.’
“Integrity is all about protecting the clean athletes,” he said. “We went through the process. She had her suspension but now she’s served that suspension. I think a lot of junior and younger players have learnt from this experience. It was certainly a lesson that she’s learnt from.”
“From the pure rules perspective she has served her suspension and is able to come back. It’s not our decision as the ITF to determine whether she receives wildcards. It’s up to each tournament to make that individual decision.” He later added.
Throughout her suspension from the tour, Sharapova has been a vocal critic of the ITF and how they managed her case. In October she accused the governing body of being bias and pushing for her to be suspended for four years. The ITF has since denied those accusations.
“The ITF did not ‘try to ban Ms Sharapova for four years’. The ITF took the position that it is the independent tribunal’s responsibility to determine what the appropriate sanction should be,” they said in a statement.
Under current WTA rules, Sharapova is allowed unlimited wildcards due to being a former world No.1 and a grand slam champion. Some have called for the rules to be changed regarding doping violators. WTA chief Steve Simon has reluctantly indicated that the policy may be reviewed in the near future.
