Russian tennis head backtracks on Sharapova retirement claim

Russian tennis head backtracks on Sharapova retirement claim | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - This is a Monday, March 7, 2016 file photo showing tennis star Maria Sharapova speakings about her failed drug test at the Australia Open during a news conference in Los Angeles. The head of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev said Maria Sharapova's failed doping test could spell the end of her career. . (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

MOSCOW – The head of the Russian Tennis Federation backtracked on his comments Thursday, saying he didn’t mean to suggest that Maria Sharapova’s failed doping test could spell the end of her career.

Russian news agency R-Sport had quoted Shamil Tarpishchev on Thursday as saying that Sharapova’s situation is “bad” and that it is “very doubtful” that she will resume her career.

“I only said that she can’t play now because no ruling on her case has been issued,” Tarpishchev later told the Tass news agency.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January. She said she had taken the drug for a decade for medical purposes and didn’t know it had been banned for 2016.

Sharapova remains provisionally suspended from competition pending a ruling from the International Tennis Federation.

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