SportsWear manufacturing company Nike have suspended Maria Sharapova's $50m sponsorship deal after the Russian athlete admitted to have failed doping test. Former world No.1 now ranked women No.7 tennis player admitted in her press conference yesterday that she had been using performance enhancing drug meldonium for the last 10 years as part of a doctor's prescription for health issues and didn't know it was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency in December.
Other top companies might follow Nike in cancelling their deals with her. Sharapova who is the world's highest earning female athlete, making about $20m in 2015 also enjoys sponsorship deals with Tag Heuer, American Express, Porsche, Evian and Avon.
In a statement, Nike said: “We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova. “We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation.”
Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion now faces a ban of up to four years which would end her career as a professional athlete
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