Tennis star Maria Sharapova likely will not return to play the sport at a professional level again, according to the president of the Russian Tennis Federation.
BBC Sport noted that on Thursday, Shamil Tarpishchev said that the chances of the former World No. 1 player returning and playing in any future tournaments is "very doubtful." He added that Sharapova is in what he described as a “bad situation.”
In early March, the 28-year-old athlete admitted that she failed a drug test for Mildronate, also known as Meldonium, which is a substance she had been taking since 2006. However, it was added to the banned substances list last year.
The International Tennis Federation provisionally suspended Sharapova on March 12 and at the time she said that she was "determined to play tennis again." Tarpishchev’s comments though now lead us to believe otherwise.
If and when she does retire Sharapova will end a very successful career having won five Grand Slams, 35 singles titles, three double titles and an Olympic medal.