Nike has suspended its sponsorship contract with Maria Sharapova after the Russian tennis star player announced on March 7 that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January. Sharapova, who is no longer the No. 1 player in the world but is still the world's highest-paid female athlete, admitted she had tested positive for meldonium, an endurance-enhancing drug originally created as a treatment for ischemia which was banned by the sport's governing body and the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Tag Heuer also said it would suspend its deal with the athlete, while Porsche said it would “postpone planned activities” with her until the release of further details on the matter. Meanwhile, Head said it would stand by the five-time Grand Slam champion by extending its contract with the player, reportedly described by the company as “a role model and woman of integrity who has inspired millions of fans around the world to play and watch tennis.”
Other Russian athletes have recently tested positive for meldonium. Ekaterina Bobrova, a Russian skater and Olympic gold medalist, announced also on March 7 she had pulled out of the World Figure Skating Championships, to be held in Boston later this month, after the drug had been detected in her blood, while the cyclist Eduard Vorganov was provisionally suspended by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) last month after a test had showed traces of meldonium.
Sharapova said she was taking full responsibility for failing the test and tried to explain what happened by saying she had been taking the drug under its alternative name, mildronate, for the past ten years for health reasons without knowing the substance was banned at the time of the Melbourne tournament, which was held on Jan. 1-31. Meldonium was added on Jan. 1 to the list of substances banned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), following a decision taken in September. The ITF said Sharapova would be suspended effective March 12, pending “determination” of the case. She risks a four-year suspension, which is the sanction in the event of a positive drug test, although this can be reduced for first-time offences or if the ITF acknowledges the player bears no fault or negligence.
Nike said in its statement that the relationship with Sharapova was suspended “while the investigation continues.” The Russian tennis star has been sponsored by the Swoosh for more than 10 years. In 2010, Nike extended the contract with her for eight more years for $70 million. It is not the first time that Nike has cancelled deals with athletes due to scandals. The American sports giant previously cancelled sponsorship contracts with Lance Armstrong, the cycling drug cheat, Oscar Pistorius, the former Paralympian hero convicted of killing his girlfriend, Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino boxer who made homophobic comments, and Ray Rice, the American football player accused of physically abusing his wife. A recent wave of sports scandals has left sports sponsors increasingly embarrassed about the value of their deals with sport federations and individual athletes.
Tag Heuer, the Swiss watch brand and another major sports sponsor with which Sharapova was under contract until Dec. 31, 2015, said the negotiations to extend the contract were suspended following the recent revelations on her failed drug test, and the company finally decided not to renew the contract. Sharapova won Wimbledon in 2004 at the age of 17 and has since been widely considered as “the” leading brand in women's sports. She has been ranked by Forbes as the highest-paid female athlete for 11 consecutive years, and the magazine put her off-court career earnings at more than $200 million.
