The Journey of a Champion: On and Off the Court

Опять наши английские журналисты не упускают возможность испачкать имя Марии.

Но и они не смогли избежать, и пришлось написать не только о решении CAS, но и о желании Марии говорить открыто обо всем.

Мария считает, все вопросы должны быть на столе, чтобы у нее была возможность показать всем, что она не обманщица.

Организаторы сказали, Мария намерена говорить открыто обо всем, включая и допинг бан.

Будет интересно, какие вопросы зададут ей и как она ответит.

Завтра будет интересный день!

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced Maria Sharapova 'won't hold back' about her drug shame as she addresses conference on women in sport weeks before returning to tennis circuit

Sharapova will speak Tuesday - four weeks before she makes a return to tennis - at the ANA Inspiring Women in Sports Conference in Rancho Mirage, California

She is is expected to open up about her 15-month doping ban in front of an audience and has agreed to field questions about it during a Q&A session

It will be the first time she has spoken publicly about the scandal since March 2016 by admitting at a press conference that she had failed a drug test

Sharapova tested positive for banned heart disease drug meldonium last year after her Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams 

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later found her not to have intentionally doped, however, after meldonium was outlawed prior to the Australian Open 

An initial two year ban was reduced to 15 months in June 2016

She has been criticized by Andy Murray, Heather Watson and Dominika Cibulkova, but has been supported by Roger Federer and Chris Evert

By Ryan Parry West Coast Correspondent For Dailymail.com 

Published: 16:43 BST, 27 March 2017 | Updated: 17:44 BST, 27 March 2017

Banned tennis ace Maria Sharapova is set to address her drug shame in public for the first time at a conference celebrating women in sport, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The Russian athlete will speak Tuesday - four weeks before she makes a controversial return to tennis - at the ANA Inspiring Women in Sports Conference in Rancho Mirage, California.

Sharapova is expected to open up in detail about her 15-month doping ban in front of an audience and has agreed to field questions about her drugs scandal during a Q&A session.

The five-time Grand Slam champion and former world No 1 player will also discuss her successful career in tennis and the importance of women succeeding in sports.

It will be the first time she has spoken publicly about the scandal since she shocked sport in March 2016 by admitting at a press conference that she had failed a drug test.

And it comes just weeks before her controversial comeback as a wild card entry in the big money Stuttgart Open on April 26.

Sharapova will be joined on stage by tennis legend Billie Jean King, three-time Olympic gold medal winning gymnast Aly Raisman, 2014 ANA Inspiration golf champion Lexi Thompson and US women's softball team gold medalist Jessica Mendoza.

According to organizers, the format of the appearance will involve Sharapova having an on-stage conversation with ESPN commentator Julie Foudy.

And a source involved with organizing the event told DailyMail.com that the star won't hold back.

'Maria has made it clear that she is not planning to shy away from anything regarding her return or ban,' the source, who asked not to be named, said.

'She feels that all questions should be on the table so that she can assert her position to the world that she was not a cheat.

'It is also her chance to set out her feelings on what others have been saying about her.

'While Maria has made comments in articles, this will be the first live chat where she will be put on the spot and asked about the matter.

'The conference will focus on Sharapova's immense career success as well, hence her being chosen as one of the ANA's 'inspirational' speakers.'

In a preview of the event on the ANA website, Sharapova's appearance is labeled as: 'The Journey of a Champion: On & Off the Court.'

Last year, Sharapova tested positive for banned drug meldonium after her Australian Open quarter-final defeat by Serena Williams on January 26 and then in an out-of-competition test on February 2.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) later found her not to have intentionally doped, however, after meldonium was outlawed prior to the Australian Open.

An initial two year ban was reduced to 15 months in June last year.

Meldonium, a heart disease drug also known as mildronate, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.

Sharapova said she had been taking the drug since 2006 for health problems and had 'not tried to use a performance-enhancing substance'.

She said she was unaware the drug had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (Wada) banned list and could not 'accept' the 'unfairly harsh' ban.

The CAS panel said it found Sharapova's case 'was not about an athlete who cheated', adding she was not an 'intentional doper'.

However, it said Sharapova was at fault for not giving her agent 'adequate instructions' about Wada's prohibited list.

Sharapova won the Wimbledon singles title as a 17-year-old in 2004, going on to win the Australian, French and US Opens to complete a career Grand Slam.

However, she has not played professional tennis since losing to 22-time Grand Slam champion Williams.

Sharapova's return has already sparked controversy after a string of tennis stars claimed she is getting special treatment.

The 29-year-old has been criticized by world number one Andy Murray, British player Heather Watson and Dominika Cibulkova, but she has been supported by Roger Federer and ex players like Chris Evert.

Earlier this month Sharapova gave an interview to Vogue magazine about the scandal.

She said: 'I played the sport with so much integrity and passion that at the beginning I wasn't able to understand how someone could believe, taking in consideration the way I compete and practice, that I could take the easier way.'

Asked if she expected the suspicion to linger for the rest of her career, she said: 'I think if I was trying to hide something, I don't think I would come out to the world and say I was taking a drug for 10 years.

'If I was really trying to take the easy way out, that's not a very smart thing to do. But the answer to your question is, absolutely.'

She confirmed that she was unhappy at the public perception of her with rival Williams.

'We're not celebrated as two women with completely different backgrounds who have created incredible opportunities for ourselves and our families.

'I think the concept of lists and the amount that players make is boll***s.'

Sharapova's appearance will be at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage, California, in advance of the ANA Inspiration, the LPGA's first major championship of the season.  

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4353072/Maria-Sharapova-won-t-hold-drugs-scandal.html#ixzz4cZKaTU37 

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