И президент ИТФ защищает Марию
Haggerty refuses to join players in condemning Sharapova return from doping ban
By Duncan Mackay Sunday, 9 April 2017
Maria Sharapova has learnt her lesson after serving a 15-month drugs ban, International Tennis Federation (ITF) President David Haggerty has claimed.
The Russian five-time Grand Slam winner is due to return to action at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on April 26, the day her ban officially ends.
A number of players on the Women's Tennis Association Tour have expressed their disappointment at the decision to offer the 29-year-old automatic entry into some big tournaments over the next few weeks.
All of which means the five-time Grand Slam winner from Russia will not have to pre-qualify for events in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.
Sharapova may also receive wildcards for Grand Slam tournaments in Paris and at Wimbledon.
Haggerty, though, has refused to join in the criticism of Sharapova, originally banned for two-years after testing positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January 2016 before it was reduced following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"Integrity is all about protecting the clean athletes," he told insidethegames during an interview at the SportAccord Convention in Aarhus.
"We went through the process.
"She had her suspension but now she's served that suspension.
"I think a lot of junior and younger players have learnt from this experience."
Haggerty added: "It was certainly a lesson that she's learnt from.
"It's not my role to take sides and talk about how the players feel.
"I think they have been quoted in the press and have said what they wanted to.
"From the pure rules perspective she has served her suspension and is able to come back.
"It's not our decision as the ITF to determine whether she receives wildcards.
"It's up to each tournament to make that individual decision."
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