ABSTRACT
On March 7, 2016, Maria Sharapova walked to the podium at a press conference in a downtown Los Angeles hotel to make a “major announcement.” The common belief was that Sharapova was there to announce she had made the decision to retire at age 28 following several injuries. Sharapova admitted to haven taken Meldonium and accepted responsibility for the failed drug test, but maintained she did not know that Meldonium was a prohibited substance. The Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) is the organizing body for women’s professional tennis. In 2016, the WTA included more than 2,500 players representing nearly 100 nations. More than 400 million fans watched WTA tennis on television and other digital channels, and total prize money reached a record $139 million. Automaker Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, said it was postponing all planned sponsorship activities with Sharapova. The WTA was formed in 1973 by legendary tennis great Billie Jean King.
