Sharapova to miss Rio Games

Maria Sharapova will miss the Rio Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport postponed its decision on her 2 year ban until September.

The five-time Grand Slam champion was handed the ban after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium during January’s Australian Open.

Sharapova had hoped the court of arbitration for sport would be able to hear her case before the deadline for teams to be finalized for competition in Rio.

But both Sharapova and the ITF need more time to prepare their cases.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport issued a statement saying a decision is expected by September 19.

The 29-year-old former world number one was named in Russia’s official entry list for the Olympics tennis tournament.

Sharapova is the highest-earning female athlete in the world, but the scandal has damaged her reputation and several of her sponsors have dropped her.