Maria Sharapova’s two-year drugs ban has sent a “powerful message” to drug cheats, according to former Great Britain Fed Cup captain Judy Murray.
The five-time Grand Slam winner has been banned by the International Tennis Federation for using a prohibited drug.
Murray told BBC Radio 5 live that Sharapova’s punishment made it clear “that there’s not going to be any hiding place for drug cheats”.
Roger Federer said he supported a “zero tolerance” stance against doping.
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| Maria Sharapova ban a ‘powerful’ message |
Men’s world number three Federer, who has won 17 Grand Slams, added: “It doesn’t matter if they did it on purpose or not, I don’t really see the difference.
“You need to know what goes into your body, you have to be 100 percent sure of what’s going on. If you’re not, you’re going to be damned.
“Of course she’s got the right to fight the case, like everybody else as well. I’m just for zero tolerance.
“I stay by my word that we should be saving blood samples for 10, 15, 20 years to come, so you have to scare away the people who think they could cheat.
“You have to scare them so they will not do it, so they could retroactively also be banned, and take away titles and so forth.”
Sharapova has said she would appeal against the “unfairly harsh” ban.
Murray said it would be “very tough” for the Russian to return to the pinnacle of her sport following the conclusion of her ban. — BBC Sport.
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