- Title: Sharapova's suspension reduced to 15 months by CAS
- Date: 4th October 2016
- Summary: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND (OCTOBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) ENTRANCE TO COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT SECRETARY GENERAL MATTHIEU REEB WALKING OUT TO READ STATEMENT (SOUNDBITE) (English) COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT SECRETARY GENERAL MATTHIEU REEB SPEAKING OF REDUCTION IN SANCTION FOR MARIA SHARAPOVA SAYS: "In the procedure between Maria Sharapova and the ITF (International Tennis Federation) the Court of Arbitration for Sport has decided to reduce the period of suspension of Maria Sharapova from two years to 15 months beginning on the 26th of January 2016. This means the ban will come to an end on 25 of April 2017. At the Australian Open in January 2016, Miss Sharapova tested positive with the substance Meldonium which is prohibited since January 1, 2016. She has acknowledged the existence of the anti-doping violation in this regard and has accepted that she would be disqualified from the Australian Open 2016, then the ITF tribunal decided to sanction her with the two-year ban, a sanction that she has decided to appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The CAS panel in charge of this matter has examined whether the player's fault was significant or not significant. The CAS arbitrators considered that Miss Sharapova bore some degree of fault as she and her entourage failed to make sure that the substance contained in a product that she had been taking for a long period of time remained in compliance with the anti-doping regulations. Consequently the CAS panel determined that the proper sanction was a suspension of 15 months starting from January 26, 2016." LOGO OF COURT (SOUNDBITE) (English) COURT OF ARBITRATION FOR SPORT SECRETARY GENERAL MATTHIEU REEB EXPLAINING REDUCTION IN SANCTION: "Because the ITF tribunal considered that she committed significant fault while the CAS panel determined that the fault was not significant so for that reason there was the possibility to reduce the sanction to 15 months."
- Embargoed: 19th October 2016 14:17
- Keywords: CAS Maria Sharapova
- Location: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
- City: LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND
- Country: Switzerland
- Topics: Sport,Tennis
- Reuters ID: LVA00152LBJGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has partially upheld an appeal by Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova against a two-year suspension imposed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), CAS Secretary General Matthieu Reeb announced in Lausanne on Tuesday (October 4).
Sharapova incurred the suspension after testing positive for the substance Meldonium, which became illegal in competition on January 1, 2016 when it joined a list of prohibited substances issued by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Sharapova was tested at the Australian Open tournament later in January and tested positive for the substance. The ITF ruled she had committed an anti-doping rule violation, disqualified her from the Australian Open and imposed a two-year suspension from competition. Sharapova appealed against the suspension saying that the violation was "no significant fault."
The CAS ruled it was a violation of an anti-doping rule but was "no significant fault". However it decided that Sharapova had failed to notice her medication was now included in the prohibited list, and therefore she was partly at fault.
Reeb said the crux of the decision was that "the ITF tribunal considered that she committed significant fault while the CAS panel determined that the fault was not significant, so for that reason there was the possibility to reduce the sanction to 15 months."
Ruling by Court of Arbitration for Sport reads:
1. The appeal filed on 9 June 2016 by Ms. Maria Sharapova against the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal of the International Tennis Federation on 6 June 2016 is partially upheld.
2. The decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal of the International Tennis Federation on 6 June 2016 is set aside.
3. Ms. Maria Sharapova is suspended for a period of fifteen (15) months commencing 26 January 2016.
4. Ms. Maria Sharapova's individual results obtained at the Australian Open on 26 January 2016, including any WTA ranking points and prize money, are disqualified.
5. The present arbitration procedure shall be free, except for the CAS Court Office fee of CHF 1,000 (one thousand Swiss francs), which has already been paid by Ms. Maria Sharapova and is retained by the CAS.
6. The parties shall bear their own expenses sustained in connection with these arbitration proceedings.
7. All other motions or prayers for relief are dismissed. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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