Maria Sharapova will be back, on court and as UN ambassador

Russian tennis player, Maria Sharapova will resume her role as a United Nations (UN) goodwill ambassador when her drug suspension ends in April. (Toby Melville/Reuters Photo)

Published on: Nov 11, 2016 7:27 PM IST

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Russian tennis player, Maria Sharapova will resume her role as a United Nations (UN) goodwill ambassador when her drug suspension ends in April. (Toby Melville/Reuters Photo)

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Five-times grand slam champion, she became an ambassador for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in 2007, but was dropped in March after admitting she had used the banned substance meldonium. (Isaac Brekken/AP Photo)

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The United States-based Russian was originally banished from the sport for two years, a suspension that was later cut to 15 months. (John Gurzinfki/AFP Photo)

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The UN announced that UNDP is glad to learn that Maria Sharapova can return to the sport she loves sooner than expected and we will lift the suspension of her role as our goodwill ambassador once the reduced ban expires. (Robyn Beck/ AFP Photo)

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Sharapova claimed that she was taking meldonium since 2006 for health issues but did not realise that it had been added to the banned list on 1 January 2016. (Vincent Kessler/Reuters Photo)

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After her admission, Sharapova’s sponsors divided their response. Some stood by her, some cut all ties. Nike, a sports equipment brand and bottled water company Evian stood by her. (John French/Reuters Photo)

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Sharapova, who is also an Olympics medalist finally have good days ahead of her and we wish her all the best. (Michael Dalder/Reuters Photo)