Following her admission of failing a drug test in January for the Australian Open, Maria Sharapova is losing sponsorships from some of her biggest backers. Nike, TAG Heuer and Porsche all announced they would no longer endorse the Russian tennis icon.
Sharapova revealed her failed drug test at a press conference Monday rather than waiting to address it after it inevitably leaked. She said she has been taking a drug called Meldonium for 10 years, even after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned it at the start of this year.
Nike said it was "saddened and surprised" by Sharapova's revelation and confirmed it would "suspend" its relationship with her while an investigation takes place. Porsche made a similar announcement, saying it would hold off on activities and events planned for Sharapova until more details come out. TAG Heuer stated it would cease negotiations for a renewal of its partnership with her.
Sharapova, 28, said she was taking a medicine called Mildronate for a magnesium deficiency and to preemptively combat diabetes, which runs in her family. But Meldonium, the drug found in Mildronate, is often prescribed for heart disease because it works by boosting blood flow.
"I wanted to let you know that, a few days ago, I received a letter from the ITF that I had failed a drug test at the Australian Open," Sharapova said Monday. "I did fail the test, and I take full responsibility for it."
She added: "I made a huge mistake. I don't want to end my career this way."
Like blood doping, Meldonium improves blood flow and, thus, can give an athlete more endurance. But unlike blood doping, Meldonium was not widely banned by international sports bodies and was little known even in the U.S. WADA monitored Meldonium for about a year before banning it.
The drug is only manufactured in Latvia and is distributed in Russia and the Baltics, where WADA believed athletes were taking it. Meldonium is not FDA-approved and it is not distributed throughout the rest of Europe either.
Sharapova admitted to taking the drug for 10 years, though its manufacturer, Grindeks, stated the recommended treatment time for Meldonium is four to six weeks. The company does not think it enhances athletic performance and indicated Sharapova's unusually long time taking the drug could be explained by a doctor giving her special instructions.
Sharapova made $29.7 million from June 2014 to June 2015, making her the highest paid female athlete over that period and for the last decade. She still has endorsements form the Head sports equipment company, Avon and Evian.
As of Feb. 29, Sharapova is the seventh-ranked female tennis player in the world. Her 35 World Tennis Association titles are third all-time among active players behind only Serena and Venus Williams.
