Stosur slams Sharapova ruling

Sam Stosur has expressed her disbelief at the reduction earlier this week of Maria Sharapova’s doping ban.

Former world No.1 Sharapova was suspended for two years by an ITF triubunal for meldonium use, only for that punishment to reduced to 15 months when she appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Stosur, the 2011 US Open champion, didn’t mince her words when asked to comment on the outcome.

“I can’t believe it actually,” said Stosur, in an interview with the South China Morning Post ahead of her appearance at the WTA Hong Kong Open.

“I don’t even know what to say.

“I don’t know how you can get away with that excuse [that she didn’t know it was banned], and have that [two-year ban] overturned. I think it’s remarkable that you can use that excuse and get away with it.

“It really sets a bad precedence for athletes moving forward where you can almost put your hands up and say it was not my fault.

“I’ve spoken to a few people [fellow players] and we all seem to have the same idea. We had the same idea beforehand, and now we have the decision.

“So I wouldn’t imagine there’s a whole lot of support from the playing group.

“It would be interesting to see [the reception] when she does come back.”

Stosur, a member of the WTA Player Council, has lost 15 of 17 career meetings with the Russian, and has not beaten Sharapova since 2012.