Zimpapers Logo

LONDON. — Maria Sharapova will miss next month’s Rio Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) yesterday decided to defer its decision on the Russian multiple grand slam champion’s appeal against a two-year doping ban until September.

Sharapova was seeking to have her ban, which was imposed on her by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in June, wiped out or reduced and a decision was initially expected to be announced by July 18. The postponement of the ruling came as Sharapova and the ITF needed more time to “complete and respond to their respective evidentiary submissions”, the CAS said in a statement.

“A decision is expected to be issued by 19 September 2016,” it added. — Reuters.