Tennis

Sponsors suspend ties with Sharapova after failed drug test

Published Mar. 8, 2016 4:49 a.m. ET

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MOSCOW (AP) Two of Maria Sharapova's top sponsors have suspended ties with the Russian tennis star after she admitted failing a doping test.

Sportswear giant Nike suspended its sponsorship, saying in a statement that it was ''saddened and surprised by the news.'' Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer says its deal with the Russian will not be renewed.

TAG Heuer said in a statement that its previous contract with Sharapova had expired at the end of 2015 and it has pulled out of negotiations on a new agreement.

Sharapova, a five-time major winner, on Monday said she failed a test at the Australian Open in January for the banned substance meldonium, a heart medication commonly sold in Eastern Europe. Meldonium was added to the banned list on Jan. 1.

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