SportsWear manufacturing giant Nike have suspended Maria Sharapova's $50m deal after the Russian athlete admitted to using a banned drug. The WTA ranked World No. 7 admitted in her press conference yesterday that she had been using performance enhancer 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.
Sharapova, who is the world's highest earning female athlete, making as much as $20m in 2015 alone, might lose her other lucrative contracts 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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