Maria Sharapova is expected to lose millions of dollars, as sponsors pull the pin on deals with the five-time tennis grand slam champion, following a failed drug test.
But as Lydia Feng reports, her on court rival Serena Williams is among the few voices showing support for the Russian player in the wake of the revelation.
For over a decade, she's been the highest paid woman in sport, but now Maria Sharapova's financial empire and career appear to be taking a hit.
Sponsors have been swift to respond after the Russian women's world number seven admitted she had tested positive for the banned substance - meldonium -- at this year's Australian Open in Melbourne.
As leading brands -- including Nike, Porsche, and TAG Heuer -- severed sponsorship ties, her long-time rival, the world's top women's player, Serena Williams acknowledged the way Sharapova delivered the news.
"I think, like everyone else said, most people were surprised and shocked by Maria, but at the same time, I think that most people were happy that she was up-front and was very honest and showed a lot of courage to admit to what she had done, and what she had neglected to look at."
A spokesman for the World Anti-Doping Authority, Ben Nichols, explained why the drug used to treat a variety of conditions, including diabetes, was banned from competitive sport in January.
"In fact, last year it was on what we call a 'monitoring program,' which is a program whereby we track substances that might eventually be added to the list. We look for patterns of misuse. We then got evidence last year that this was, in fact, being used to enhance performance by some athletes, so it was added to our banned list."
Sharapova's former tennis coach Jeff Tarango says the 28-year-old should be given the benefit of the doubt when she says she was unaware of the WADA ruling.
"I don't know what's going on, but I really feel like if Maria wrote down on that test that she was taking this certain drug that's banned, it is obvious she didn't know it was banned. Why would she write it down in her handwriting on this test?"
But former WADA president Dick Pound has his doubts.
"Leaving aside the fair play side of it, I mean, you're running a $30 million annual business. It depends on you staying eligible to play tennis. And you're taking something that's on a list that you've known about for at least four months, I'm sorry, that's just a big mistake."
Meldonium is a drug used to treat chest pain and heart problems, as it boosts blood flow.
Its use is banned in a number of western countries, including the United States.
The medication's Latvian manufacturer recommends use for between four to six weeks at a time, and twice a year at most.
Maria Sharapova has been taking meldonium for ten years.
Russian cardiologist Anton Rodionov says it can boost physical endurance.
(Translated)"It was found out that this drug improves the endurance of physical activity by 20-30 seconds. So for those who have atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, those with an organic lesion of heart and, at the same time, those who are being prescribed with accepted international treatment, this drug improved the time of spinning pedals on a stable bike for several dozen seconds."
Sharapova will be provisionally suspended, and faces a ban of up to four years from competitive tennis.
The Russian tennis star claims she was prescribed meldonium to treat medical conditions.
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