Sharapova ban reduction is partial justice - says head of Russian Tennis Federation

Record ID: 84905

  • Title: Sharapova ban reduction is partial justice - says head of Russian Tennis Federation
  • Date: 4th October 2016
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (OCTOBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN TENNIS FEDERATION, SHAMIL TARPISCHEV GIVING INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN TENNIS FEDERATION, SHAMIL TARPISCHEV, SAYING: "We believe that this moment is optimal for the decision that was made. Justice has been restored partially. But it is hard to say if it serves as an example for the others because the violations there were different. And I believe that the issues raised by the International Olympic Committee on re-organising WADA are very acute." CAMERA OPERATOR (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN TENNIS FEDERATION, SHAMIL TARPISCHEV, SAYING: "I think that the fact that Masha has a flawless reputation, that she is an outstanding sportswoman, a cult-figure for the younger generation, and that this was not her direct mistake, but mostly a mistake by her management contributed (to the CAS decision)." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PRESIDENT OF RUSSIAN TENNIS FEDERATION, SHAMIL TARPISCHEV, SAYING: "We hope that she will be able to overcome the psychological stress that she experienced and will rightfully become one of the elite of the strongest and will defend the country's honour." VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING TENNIS
  • Embargoed: 19th October 2016 18:26
  • Keywords: Russia Maria Sharapova Shamil Tarpischev tennis doping ban reduction Russian Tennis Federation
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Sport,Tennis
  • Reuters ID: LVA00152LCTAF
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: The president of Russia's Tennis Federation welcomed a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday (October 4) to reduce Maria Sharapova's two-year suspension by nine months.
    The former world number one was cleared to resume tennis from April 26 next year and can play in three of the year's four grand slams.
    "We believe that this moment is optimal for the decision that was made. Justice has been restored partially," said Shamil Tarpischev, president of the Russian Tennis Federation, but he said Sharapova's case was different to other doping charges faced by Russian athletes.
    "The issues raised by the International Olympic Committee on re-organising WADA are very acute," Tarpischev added.
    The 29-year-old Russian, whose case polarised opinion and lost her sponsorship, was handed the original ban - starting start on Jan. 26, 2016 - by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) following a positive test for the drug meldonium at the Australian Open.
    Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) list of banned substances at the start of the year after mounting evidence that it boosted blood flow and enhanced athletic performance.
    The arbitration panel reduced the ban to 15 months and found that she "bore some degree of fault" through relying on her agent Max Eisenbud to check the prohibited list for changes and failing to ensure he had done so.
    Tarpischev said the five-times grand slam champion's reputation had prevailed.
    "I think that the fact that Masha has a flawless reputation, that she is an outstanding sportswoman, a cult-figure for the younger generation, and that this was not her direct mistake, but mostly a mistake by her management contributed (to the CAS decision)."
    "We hope that she will be able to overcome the psychological stress that she experienced and will rightfully become one of the elite of the strongest and will defend the country's honour," he added.
    In a statement hailing one of the happiest days of her career, and criticising the ITF at the same time, Sharapova said she had learned a lesson and hoped the authorities had too.
    Sharapova, who earned $29.7 million last year as the world's highest paid female athlete, had called the ITF's original ruling "unfairly harsh" as an independent tribunal had found that she had not intentionally violated anti-doping rules.
    The player admitted taking meldonium during the season's opening grand slam in Melbourne but said she had been unaware that it had been banned by WADA.
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