Maria Sharapova will be reinstated as a UN goodwill ambassador when her doping ban ends in April 2017. In a short statement, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) said that they were looking forward to working with her to discuss her role in the near future.
“UNDP was glad to learn that Maria Sharapova can return to the sport she loves sooner than expected and we will lift the suspension of her role as our goodwill ambassador once the reduced ban expires in April 2017,” a UNDP spokesperson said.
“We understand that Ms. Sharapova will be focused on resuming her tennis career and we look forward to discussing her role and engagement with UNDP at an appropriate date.”
Maria Sharapova stunned the tennis world when she announced in March that she had failed a drugs test. The player tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open. Her ban was reduced from 24 months to 15 months on appeal.
Sharapova started working as a goodwill ambassador for the UNDP in 2007. She was suspended from the role in March when her failed test became public knowledge.
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