Sharapova targets April return

Gasquet says return will be ‘tough’ after doping ban reduced

AFP, BEIJING: French tennis player Richard Gasquet — who was once banned after testing positive for cocaine — said Wednesday that Maria Sharapova will face a “tough” return when her 15-month doping ban ends next year.
Gasquet faced an emotional comeback himself after he tested positive for cocaine at the Miami Open in 2009.
“It is never easy to come back, of course. I think she had 15 months... it’s quite long to come back (after that). Mentally and physically it will be tough for her,” Gasquet told AFP in Beijing.
The 30-year-old Frenchman was banned for just two and a half months after he persuaded the International Tennis Federation’s tribunal panel that he had inadvertently ingested cocaine during a nightclub kiss with a girl who had taken the drug.
At the time of his court comeback, Gasquet said that he had been too upset to pick up a tennis racket during his suspension.
But his career has since rebounded. He has ended three of the last four years inside the top ten and achieved his best ever Grand Slam performance this year, reaching the quarter finals at Roland Garros.
“(Sharapova) need(s) to play enough and of course it will be ok for her in the future. We will see... for every case it is different,” Gasquet added.
Another report adds from Lausanne: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova hailed the reduction of her two-year doping ban on Tuesday as one of the “happiest days” of her life, immediately targeting a return to action in April 2017.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cut Sharapova’s ban to 15 months saying she was not an “intentional doper”, after the 29-year-old tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January’s Australian Open — throwing her glittering, money-spinning career into serious jeopardy.
“I’ve gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March, when I learned about my suspension, to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April,” said Sharapova, who has racked up 35 WTA singles titles and more than $36 million in career earnings.
An April return — the ban is backdated to the positive test in January this year — means she would in theory be able to compete at the French Open in May-June next year. 
Sharapova, whose ferocity on court, business acumen and glamorous looks have all combined to make her a marketing juggernaut, was hit with a two-year ban by an independent tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
Reducing the ban after she appealed, the Lausanne-based CAS “found that Ms Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with ‘no significant fault’, she bore some degree of fault, for which a sanction of 15 months is appropriate”.
In the panel’s more detailed, formal decision, it said significantly: “Under no circumstances... can the player be considered to be an ‘intentional doper’.”
Sharapova openly admitted she had been taking meldonium for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency.

Sharapova targets April return

Gasquet says return will be tough after doping ban reduced

AFP, BEIJING: French tennis player Richard Gasquet who was once banned after testing positive for cocaine said Wednesday that Maria Sharapova will face a tough return when her 15-month doping ban ends next year. Gasquet faced an emotional comeback himself after he tested positive for cocaine at the Miami Open in 2009. It is never easy to come back, of course. I think she had 15 months... its quite long to come back (after that). Mentally and physically it will be tough for her, Gasquet told AFP in Beijing. The 30-year-old Frenchman was banned for just two and a half months after he persuaded the International Tennis Federations tribunal panel that he had inadvertently ingested cocaine during a nightclub kiss with a girl who had taken the drug. At the time of his court comeback, Gasquet said that he had been too upset to pick up a tennis racket during his suspension. But his career has since rebounded. He has ended three of the last four years inside the top ten and achieved his best ever Grand Slam performance this year, reaching the quarter finals at Roland Garros. (Sharapova) need(s) to play enough and of course it will be ok for her in the future. We will see... for every case it is different, Gasquet added. Another report adds from Lausanne: Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova hailed the reduction of her two-year doping ban on Tuesday as one of the happiest days of her life, immediately targeting a return to action in April 2017. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cut Sharapovas ban to 15 months saying she was not an intentional doper, after the 29-year-old tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during Januarys Australian Open throwing her glittering, money-spinning career into serious jeopardy. Ive gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March, when I learned about my suspension, to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April, said Sharapova, who has racked up 35 WTA singles titles and more than $36 million in career earnings. An April return the ban is backdated to the positive test in January this year means she would in theory be able to compete at the French Open in May-June next year. Sharapova, whose ferocity on court, business acumen and glamorous looks have all combined to make her a marketing juggernaut, was hit with a two-year ban by an independent tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Reducing the ban after she appealed, the Lausanne-based CAS found that Ms Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with no significant fault, she bore some degree of fault, for which a sanction of 15 months is appropriate. In the panels more detailed, formal decision, it said significantly: Under no circumstances... can the player be considered to be an intentional doper. Sharapova openly admitted she had been taking meldonium for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency.