Decision on Sharapova in mid-May: Russian tennis chief

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) will announce its decision on former Maria Sharapova’s doping case in the second half of next month, Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) president Shamil Tarpishchev said on Thursday. Tarpishchev held talks on Thursday with ITF officials at the World Sport and Business Summit, reports Tass..

“We have discussed key issues in the world of tennis during the meeting,” Tarpishchev said. “We have discussed Sharapova’s situation as well.”

“I have no right disclosing the details on the issue, but can say that there would be no decisions made in regard to Sharapova before the middle of May,” Tarpishchev added.

Early last month Sharapova had said recent doping tests revealed the presence of Meldonium in her body system. A decision regarding her sports career in view of doping accusations should be made by the ITF tribunal. The ITF announced in its statement a week ago that the tribunal would take into account recent recommendations made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) while reviewing Sharapova’s case. WADA announced on April 13 that the concentration of less than one microgram of Meldonium in the body system, whose doping tests were conducted before March 1, was acceptable.