Maria Sharapova losing support of multiple sponsors
Maria Sharapova is feeling the fallout from her positive drug test at the Australian Open.
Sharapova announced the news of her failed test on Monday. Later that evening Nike announced it was suspending its relationship with the tennis star. Since then many other sponsors have followed suit.
Porsche has announced it is pausing its plans with Sharapova.
“Until further details are released and we can analyze the situation, we have chosen to postpone planned activities,” Porsche said in a statement to NPR.
TAG Heuer was in talks to extend Sharapova’s deal, which expired at the end of the year, but they have put those talks on hold.
Evian water’s owner said he was “surprised” by the development and told Reuters they will follow the developments closely.
“Evian attaches great importance to health, to integrity, and transparency, and we will follow closely the development of the investigation.”
The positive test remains more than a blemish on the accomplished tennis player’s career. The manufacturers of the Latvian product Meldonium for which Sharapova tested positive said a normal treatment course is for 4-6 weeks, not 10 years, which is the length of time Sharapova had been using it. A treatment course is also said to be two or three times a year at most.
The statement from the drug company raises further suspicion about Sharapova’s motives for using the product.
