Bouchard slams ‘cheater’ Sharapova

TIL Desk Sports/ Canadian tennis star Eugenie Bouchard called Maria Sharapova as a ‘cheater’ over her return from a drugs ban and suggested the Russian should be banned for life. Bouchard said the Women’s Tennis Association was sending the wrong message in allowing the five-time Grand Slam champion to come back from her 15-month ban.

Former world number one Sharapova made a winning comeback to the tour, on Wednesday, beating Italian Roberta Vinci in straight sets in the first round of the Stuttgart Grand Prix. “I don’t think that’s right. She’s a cheater and so to me, I don’t think a cheater in any sport should be allowed to play that sport again,” Canada’s Bouchard, the world number 59, told.

“It’s so unfair to all the other players who do it the right way and are true. So I just think the WTA sends the wrong message to young kids: you know, cheat and we’ll welcome you back with open arms. “So I don’t think that’s right. She’s not someone I can say I look up to any more because it’s definitely ruined it for me a little bit.”