Maria included in Russian Oly team

Moscow, May 26 

Maria Sharapova is one of four Russian players named to compete in women’s singles at the Olympics in Rio, even though she has been suspended from competition after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. 

“We will include Sharapova in the team, which we need to announce by June 6,” Shamil Tarpishchev, the International Olympic Committee member and president of the Russian Tennis Federation, said. “Whether she competes or not should be decided by the end of the first week of Roland Garros.” 

Five-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at this year’s Australian Open after it was added to WADA’s list of banned substances in January. She was provisionally suspended on March 12. —Reuters