Sports equipment and clothing company Head have confirmed they will
be extending their contract with Maria Sharapova despite her failed drug
test at the Australian Open.
Even though sponsors such as Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche cut ties
with the Russian, Head said they are "proud to stand behind Maria".
The company released a statement saying it was “proud” of its
relationship with Sharapova and described her as “a role model and woman
of integrity”.
It said: “Head is proud to stand behind Maria, now and into the
future and we intend to extend her contract. We look forward to working
with her and to announcing new sponsorships in the weeks and months
ahead. Maria may have made a mistake but she has earned the benefit of
the doubt and we are extending it to her.”
Head’s chairman and chief executive, Johan Eliasch, set out the
reasons for standing by Sharapova, saying: “Although it is beyond doubt
she tested positive for the use of a Wada [World Anti-Doping Agency]
banned substance, the circumstantial evidence is equally beyond doubt
the continued use of meldonium after Jan 1st, 2016 in the dosages she
had been recommended, which were significantly short of
performance-enhancing levels, was a manifest error by Maria.
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