Nike said it plans to continue its sponsorship of Maria Sharapova despite the tennis champion’s two-year ban for doping. Sharapova plans to appeal the ruling, which was made on Wednesday.
“The ITF tribunal has found that Maria did not intentionally break its rules,” Nike said in a statement. “Maria has always made her position clear, has apologized for her mistake and is now appealing the length of the ban. Based on the decision of the ITF and their factual findings, we hope to see Maria back on court and will continue to partner with her.”
Nike in March had suspended its contract with Sharapova following her confession that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open. Nike lifted the suspension after her two-year ban from tennis was confirmed. It has no plans to use her in advertisements in the near future.
The Russian admitted to making a mistake in carrying on taking meldonium, after it was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list on January 1, 2016.
