Maria Sharapova Blows Off Suspension With Chelsea Handler In Bikini
Maria Sharapova has been provisionally suspended from tennis after she tested positive for doping. To keep herself distracted, the Russian player took off to Mexico with her friend Chelsea Handler and a pair of bikinis.
“The 28-year-old tennis pro was spied living it up in Mexico with good friend Chelsea Handler on Monday, as they continue their sun-soaked getaway,” reports Daily Mail. “Maria, who is in the midst of a suspension after taking a banned substance, looked sensational in a red bikini while Chelsea, 41, kept things simple in a black two-piece.”
Being the comedienne that she is, Chelsea Handler didn’t forget to make her trip to Mexico become fodder for another joke. Check out her Instagram below!
With friends like Chelsea Handler, Maria will be out of the blues soon enough!
Two weeks ago, the tennis star confessed in a news conference that she had tested positive for melodium, a drug that she says she took to take care of her heart issues. That drug was added to the list of banned substances this year.
“She has been provisionally suspended and faces a ban of as long as four years,” reports New York Times. “Her fate rests with whether she and her lawyers can show she did not take the drug intentionally for performance-enhancing purposes.”
While her career is crumbling around her, she did not forget to keep her fan base strong by writing a Facebook post. She wrote, “I wanted to let you know that your wonderful words put a smile on my face. I’d like to play again and hope to have the chance to do so. Your messages give me great encouragement. This message isn’t anything else but to say thank you. Thank you very much.”
In a later entry, she also expressed that she is ready to fight and not let bureaucracy get in the way of achieving her career dreams.
“I want to reach out to you to share some information, discuss the latest news, and let you know that there have been things that have been reported wrong in the media, and I am determined to fight back,” she posted.
Maria also has been trying various ways of keeping herself occupied as she waits to hear about her suspension. She has been frequenting museums, which she probably would not have the luxury to do so if she was training for tournaments right now.
The Rain Room at #LACMA pic.twitter.com/Iqw7YkzeAI
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) March 22, 2016
It looks like she has a healthy approach to dealing with the stress and pressure that she is under right now.
But it sure isn’t easy to not think about the career that she has built. Ever since she was accused of doping, the world No. 7 lost sponsorships from Nike, TAG Heuer, and Porsche, according to USA Today.
On the other hand, some of these brands seem open towards her coming back. Nike expressed that it “believes disgraced athletes can redeem themselves,” according to Forbes.
Global brand head Trevor Edwards stated, “Each time those situations happen, you are saddened and disappointed. At the same time, there are many athletes that inspire us.”
It looks like if Maria can prove herself right, she will have no issue keeping her status as a successful sportswoman.
Some have been very considerate and kind towards the world number seven. Her biggest rival, Serena Williams gave a very professional and diplomatic comment about this issue.
“Like everyone else, most people were surprised and shocked,” she expressed according to New York Times. “But most people are happy with the fact she was upfront with what she had done in terms of what she had neglected. With that being said, she’s taking responsibility, which she was ready to do.”
But others have not been so nice towards Maria Sharapova. the former World Anti-Doping President Dick Pound went as far as to call the player “stupid,” according to USA Today.
Do you think Maria will be able to prove that her doping was unintentional?
[Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]
