 | |  |  | Maria Sharapova News & Gossip
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| | Maria Sharapova thinks the anti-doping people went after her because she's rich | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Does anyone else wonder if Maria Sharapova is playing her doping scandal the wrong way? Before she was given a two-year ban for doping, she was already pap-strolling and attending the Met Gala like nothing happened. And now after the ban, she?s acting like she was treated unfairly for making an honest mistake. And the pap strolls keep on coming ? these photos are from a few days ago, when Maria was out and about in Beverly Hills. Currently, Maria is appealing her two-year ban and she hopes that the ban will be thrown out in time for her to compete at the Rio Olympics. And she?s still playing the victim too ? when the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency made a crack about how WADA?s budget is less than Maria?s yearly salary, Sharapova?s lawyer demanded an apology.
The boss of the doping agency that took down Maria Sharapova is gloating after the Russian tennis star was suspended two years for testing positive for meldonium. Craig Reedie, the president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said Monday he took more pride in the ban because Sharapova?s salary exceeds the budget of WADA.
?For me the only satisfactory element in Madame Sharapova?s case was that in one year she can earn more money than the whole of WADA?s budget put together,? Reedie said, via The Telegraph.
Reedie said WADA was ?punching above its weight? on a budget of less than $30 million a year. In 2015, Sharapova raked in $29.7 million, according to Forbes.
Sharapova?s camp wasn?t too thrilled with the apparent boast, and fired back with three caustic lines.
?The statement made today by the WADA president is unprofessional. Justice, whether in the eyes of WADA or a court, must be blind, including being blind to a player?s earnings,? said a statement attributed to Sharapova?s attorney John Haggerty. ?Mr. Reedie owes an apology to Maria and to all successful tennis players unless he wants fans to think WADA has different standards for players depending on their ranking and earnings.?
[From Page Six]
I don?t get it? Why should Reedie have to apologize? He didn?t say that they went after Sharapova BECAUSE she?s rich. He was making a point about the shoestring budget (??) of WADA, and how WADA has to do the best they can even though they?re dealing with some incredibly wealthy athletes who could bury them in legal papers, excuses, lawsuits and more. So is Maria Sharapova trying to say that we should feel sorry for her because she?s rich? And is that really the ?sympathy card? Maria wants to play? I can?t help but feel that she is incredibly unlikeable.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
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| | Maria Sharapova Relax Shopping to Enjoy her Suspension in Venice | | Added 7 years ago | Source: Dickism |
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Here is Maria Sharapova heading out on a shopping trip as tennis star looks to get two-year doping ban reduced in Venice Beach, California.
I would gladly trade places with her. Not having to work ever again at the ripe old age of 29 and having millions of dollars to live the good life. Good God if only my life were that bad.
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| | Maria Sharpova thinks she could win her appeal & make it to the Rio Olympics | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Maria Sharapova was given a two-year ban on professional tennis last week, following an investigation into Sharapova?s admission that she tested positive for banned substances. I thought Maria?s ban was more than fair, especially given the shadiness of her story. While professional tennis players went on the record about Sharapova back in March, when she came clean about her doping, there was a whole lot of radio silence last week. That might be because Sharapova was never well-liked. And it might be because other tennis players think her situation is sloppy for a supposed professional. Roger Federer was one of the few to go on the record about Sharapova late last week, and he thinks that she?s ultimately responsible for what goes in her body. This is what he said:
?It doesn?t matter if they did it on purpose or not, I don?t really see the difference. You need to know what goes into your body, you have to be 100% sure of what?s going on. If you?re not, you?re going to be damned. I stay by my word that we should be saving blood samples for 10, 15, 20 years to come, so you have to scare away the people who think they could cheat.?
[Via GG India]
Federer said something similar back in March too, that with Sharapova?s positive test, there should be a renewed effort to test every player thoroughly. Andy Murray said something similar too. Basically, very few people are defending Sharapova and many are already writing her career-obituary. But that hasn?t stopped Sharapova from appealing the ITF?s ruling and asking that her case be heard in time for her ban to be lifted for the Rio Olympics!
Maria Sharapova appealed her two-year doping ban to the highest court in sports on Tuesday, and an expedited ruling will be issued next month ahead of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Sharapova filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport seeking to overturn or reduce the suspension imposed by the International Tennis Federation last week.
CAS said both sides agreed to an “expedited procedure,” which will allow the court to issue its ruling by July 18 at the latest. If the suspension is thrown out, Sharapova would be eligible to compete at the Rio Games, which open on Aug. 5. CAS said it hasn’t decided whether to hold a hearing.
Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, announced she would appeal after the announcement of her suspension on June 7. An independent three-person panel appointed by the ITF said Sharapova did not intend to cheat because she didn’t know meldonium was banned but that she bore “sole responsibility” and “very significant fault” for the positive test. The panel also said various elements of Sharapova’s case “inevitably lead to the conclusion” that she took the substance “for the purpose of enhancing her performance.”
“Maria looks forward to CAS hearing her appeal and hopes she’ll be able to play again,” said Sharapova’s lawyer, John Haggerty. “The ITF tribunal concluded she had no intent to do anything wrong, and she thinks a two-year suspension is unfairly harsh.”
[From ESPN]
Well, that?s certainly confident. Not only will Sharapova appeal a decision that pretty conclusively found her guilty of various shady bulls–t, but she wants to get the appeal over and done in time so she could conceivably compete during the Olympics. I hope her appeal goes nowhere. I hope the two-year ban stays, obviously. But this confidence, this unwillingness to take a completely appropriate punishment for doing something wrong, it comes across as entitled. And that just reminds me of why Nike, Evian and Head are still sticking with her. Maybe if Sharapova loses her appeal, Nike will finally pull out of the business of Sharapova?
Embed from Getty Images
Photos courtesy of WENN, Getty.
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| | Maria Sharapova gets to keep her sponsorships with Nike, Evian & Head | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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As we discussed yesterday, Maria Sharapova received a two-year ban on professional tennis after she admitted (after she tested positive) to using a banned substance. Sharapova?s version of the verdict is that the ITF found that she did not intentionally use banned substances, that it was all some big misunderstanding. But if you read the full decision ? you can see the PDF file of the decision here ? you might realize that the ITF investigated Sharapova thoroughly and they had many good reasons for implementing the two-year ban. Still, most people aren?t going to delve that deeply into it, especially because Sharapova is going to appeal the decision and she?s still fronting like she really didn?t do anything wrong. What?s surprising is that so many of Sharapova?s sponsors aren?t delving too deeply into the ITF?s decision either. Many of the sponsors are sticking with her. Shock of shocks.
Maria Sharapova has found support from sponsors after being given a two-year suspension for failing a drugs test at the Australian Open. Sharapova has vowed to fight the ban, announced by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday, after she tested positive for prohibited substance meldonium and high-profile sponsors Nike, Head and Evian are standing by the Russian, with Nike lifting the suspension they imposed on their contract when news of her failed drugs test emerged in March. At the time of the failed test, the sportswear company said it was putting its eight-year, $70m deal on hold. But in a statement on Wednesday night, it said that it had decided to continue working with Sharapova.
?The ITF Tribunal has found that Maria did not intentionally break its rules. Maria has always made her position clear, has apologised for her mistake and is now appealing the length of the ban,? read Nike?s statement. ?Based on the decision of the ITF and their factual findings, we hope to see Maria back on court and will continue to partner with her.?
Sharapova?s racket provider Head never wavered in its support of her, citing her as a ?role model and woman of integrity? at the time of her failed test and proceeding to extend her deal. On Thursday, Evian said in a statement: ?The ITF tribunal concluded that Maria Sharapova?s contravention was not intentional. Following this announcement, Evian has decided to maintain its long-lasting relationship with the champion.?
Two of Sharapova?s other sponsors, watchmaker Tag Heuer and luxury car brand Porsche, have been less supportive. Porsche suspended activities with Sharapova following her failed test, and will now wait for the verdict to her appeal to the Court of Arbitration to Sport. The company said in a statement: ?We have taken note of the recent International Tennis Federation ruling in the case of Maria Sharapova and are especially aware that it was decided that she was not accused of intentionally violating the World Anti-Doping Code. As Maria will appeal the decision, we will continue to keep all activities with her on hold until the final judgement has been reached.?
Tag Heuer announced in March it had decided not to renew Sharapova?s contract, but has not ruled out working with her again in the future. Cosmetics brand Avon are also severing ties with Sharapova but insist that is not because of her doping ban. A spokesperson said: ?Avon?s relationship with Maria Sharapova was a limited engagement that focused on one of our fragrances. The engagement is set to expire and we had not planned to extend this relationship regardless of the current situation.?
[From The Guardian]
The biggest deal was Nike, because that?s her most lucrative contract, and I?m absolutely shocked that they?re sticking with her. While Sharapova has always been more of a model than a professional tennis player, surely it?s bad business for an athleticswear company to continue spending tens of millions of dollars on an athlete banned from her sport following a thorough investigation? Surely it would just be easier for Nike to sever ties with Sharapova ? for good cause, mind you ? and start over with another player?
And of course there?s a larger conversation to be had about privilege and what the reaction would have been if one of the Williams sisters had tested positive. Can anyone say that this would have the reaction if Serena was in this situation?
Photos courtesy of WENN.
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| | Maria Sharapova Booty Plays Beach Tennis in Los Angeles | | Added 7 years ago | Source: Dickism |
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Here is Maria Sharapova playing tennis on the beach in Los Angeles.
Sharapova took to the beach with friends just one day before hearing she had been slapped with two-year ban… The ban has been backdated to January 26 – the day the Russian failed her drugs test in Melbourne – meaning it will end on January 25, 2018.
The ban was at the heavier end of expectations and it means she cannot play a Grand Slam until the French Open in 2018.
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| | Maria Sharapova receives a 2-year ban on tennis for her banned-substance usage | | Added 7 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Back in March of this year, Maria Sharapova stepped out for a hastily announced press conference and announced that she had tested positive for a banned substance, meldonium. Meldonium had been added to the ITF?s banned substance list as of January 2016. She claimed that she and her people had simply missed the announcement, that she had simply not clicked a link in one email. Although? that claim quickly fell apart, as many other professional tennis players began talking about how they and their teams go through all of those emails with a fine-toothed comb. Plus, Sharapova and her team were apparently warned five times about meldonium?s addition to the banned-substances list.
So, Sharapova has had to sit out the current tennis season and her hearing was back in May. The International Tennis Federation made their ruling Wednesday: Maria is banned for two years. She?s already announced that she will appeal the decision.
Maria Sharapova was suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday for testing positive for a banned substance. Sharapova, 29, announced in March that she tested positive for meldonium on Jan. 26 at the Australian Open and began serving a provisional suspension. Meldonium, a heart medication that is said to improve blood flow and allow athletes to recover faster, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency?s prohibited list in January after the agency monitored its use for a year.
Sharapova had a two-day hearing, on May 18 and 19, with a three-member tribunal appointed by the I.T.F. She faced a suspension of up to four years if the tribunal decided her use of meldonium was intentional. The I.T.F. said that because of her prompt admission of her violation, the suspension would be backdated to begin on Jan. 26 and she would be eligible to return at midnight on Jan. 25, 2018.
The tribunal ruled: ?The contravention of the antidoping rules was not intentional as Ms. Sharapova did not appreciate that Mildronate contained a substance prohibited from 1 January 2016. However, she does bear sole responsibility for the contravention, and very significant fault, in failing to take any steps to check whether the continued use of this medicine was permissible.?
Sharapova said in a statement released on her Facebook page that she would immediately appeal the suspension through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
?I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,? she said. ?The tribunal, whose members were selected by the I.T.F., agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years.?
[From The NY Times]
?The tribunal, whose members were selected by the I.T.F., agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong?? Except that they did think that she did something wrong, thus their usage of ?very significant fault? for not checking the new year?s banned-list additions. But I guess the point is that the ITF believes her excuse, that she didn?t check and she ? the wealthiest woman in the sport of tennis with lots of trainers, coaches, lawyers, etc ? didn?t have anyone around her checking the list either. How is it that the ITF believed that story? Oh well. Absence of intention is not absence of malice, and I still think it?s shady as hell that she was on this drug for a decade. Everything about her story is shady, actually. And I think a two-year ban is a gift.
Photos courtesy of WENN, Fame/Flynet.
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| | Maria Sharapova Dons Bikinis on Holiday in Mexico | | Added 8 years ago | Source: Dickism |
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Here is Maria Sharapova slipping her toned body into a green skimpy bikini, the blonde beauty looked like she didn’t have a care in the world as she relaxed on the beach in Los Cabos.
She showed off her endless legs and toned abs in the skimpy bikini, which she teamed with a pair of sunglasses.
Chelsea, who stayed under her parasol, had the Russian beauty in fits of giggles as she lay back on the beach, protecting her face with a large straw hat.
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| | Maria Sharapova stepped out in Santa Monica as her meldonium story fell apart | | Added 8 years ago | Source: CeleBitchy |
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Here are some photos of Maria Sharapova on Wednesday in Santa Monica, California. She was only two days removed from her public admission that she had tested positive for a banned substance. And it seemed like just another day for Maria. The thing is, I?m pretty sure this was a set-up photo shoot. Look at the Nike gear that?s clearly visible. Look at how she?s posing with the tennis racket. She called the paps ? or someone on her team called the paps ? to show her sponsors that she can still shill, that she can still make money for them. But can she?
As the days pass, Sharapova?s original story keeps falling apart. It really doesn?t look good. Vanity Fair ran a great piece about why Sharapova?s story doesn?t make much sense ? she originally said she had been taking meldonium for 10 years because a heart condition and some concerns about diabetes. Except that the main features of meldonium are that it increases oxygen uptake and endurance. Also, a Latvian pharmaceutical company that produces meldonium said ?patients usually require a four-to-six-week course of treatment that may be repeated twice a year, not a decade of continuous use.? And, as we already heard, Sharapova?s excuse of willful ignorance ? she claims she simply did not click on a link ? was bulls?t too. There were widespread reports, emails and warnings about the banning of meldonium.
USA Today also had a great piece about the pervasive usage of meldonium among Russian and Eastern European athletes. Did you know that meldonium isn?t even available in the US, which is where Sharapova lives full-time now? Meaning she had to go to Russia or Latvia or wherever to get the drug (which, again, she was taking on a daily basis for a decade), and then what? Illegally importing it into the US?
Vanity Fair also pointed out that so far, American Express, Avon and Evian haven?t suspended her contracts? yet. But they will likely do so. It?s also looking more and more like Sharapova will be suspended for a lengthy period of time, and that this is the ignoble end of her tennis career.
Final Sharapova-
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| | Maria Sharapova Amazing Ass on the Beach in Santa Monica | | Added 8 years ago | Source: Dickism |
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Here is Maria Sharapova working up a sweat while getting her fitness on with a personal trainer on the beach in Santa Monica, California.
She is on the beach, laughing, exercising and enjoying life as if her past ten years in tennis wasn?t a fraud.
?In this moment, I am so proud to call you my fans,? Maria wrote. ?Within hours of my announcement, you showed me support and loyalty, which I could only expect to hear when someone would be at the top of their profession.?
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| | Maria Sharapova is Spotted out Shopping at Whole Foods in Los Angeles | | Added 8 years ago | Source: Dickism |
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Here is Maria Sharapova lets out a smile while going grocery shopping at Whole Foods in Los Angeles.
The tennis player appears to be in good spirits following the reveal of her impending suspension from the International Tennis Federation due to a failed drug test.
Have to wait and see whether her claims of needing the drug for medical reasons are true. This is a prescription drug and the reason it was banned was because they realized a lot of athletes were using it as a performance enhancer, which at the very least is immoral.
hese top level players have teams of people to deal with this stuff, if she didn’t know it was added to the banned list then someone in her team is in trouble, if she knew and kept using it she’s an idiot, her reputation and millions in sponsorship have just evaporated.
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