Maria Sharapova’s announcement on Monday that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open was shocking. But perhaps more surprising was how quickly some of her sponsors turned their backs on her.
Just hours after Ms. Sharapova, the world’s highest-paid female athlete, admitted she had tested positive for the recently banned drug meldonium, Nike said it was suspending its relationship with her.
“We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova,” the company said, adding that it would “continue to monitor the situation.”
Other sponsors quickly followed.