News Sports Tennis Banned for two years, Maria Sharapova joins Harvard Business School

Banned for two years, Maria Sharapova joins Harvard Business School

Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, who is currently serving a two-year ban from international tennis, has decided to keep herself busy by enrolling herself in a two-week program at the Harvard Business School.

Banned for two years, Maria Sharapova joins Harvard Business School Banned for two years, Maria Sharapova joins Harvard Business School

Boston: Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova, who is currently serving a two-year ban from international tennis, has decided to keep herself busy by enrolling herself in a two-week program at the Harvard Business School. 

The 29-year-old Sharapova is currently serving a suspension of two years, levied by International Tennis Federation, after she was tested positive for the banned substance meldonium during January's Australian Open.

Sharapova held a press conference in March to present her side of the story, saying she had taken meldonium since 2006 as a preventive measure for health reasons. 

While the ruling on Sharapova’s appeal to overturn or reduce the suspension is expected on July 18, she has decided not to waste time sitting on the sidelines and made the announcement on Twitter and Facebook on Saturday. 

“Not sure how this happened but Hey Harvard! Can’t wait to start the program!” Sharapova wrote on her Twitter account, along with a photo of herself on a bench marked ‘Harvard Business School’. 

Though it is not clear what course Sharapova would be completing at the university, her agent, Max Eisenbud, said that the program involves two classes on campus. 

Apart from tennis, Sharapova is a savvy businesswoman and owns the candy brand Sugarpova. According to Fortune, the company earned Rs 150 crore this year. 

However, the two-year ban imposed by the ITF has cost her big money endorsements as she lost the contract with Nike in March.