Nike, Other Sponsors Stand By Doper Sharapova

(RTTNews) - Despite being handed a two-year ban for a failed doping test, some of Russian tennis superstar Maria Sharapova's high-profile sponsors have said they will stand by the disgraced player.

Sportswear giant Nike, racket maker Head and bottled water company Evian have said they will stand by the five-time Grand Slam winner.

The ban on Sharapova was announced by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday after the 29-year-old tennis star tested positive for banned drug meldonium. The two-year ban commenced on January 26, 2016, but Sharapova has vowed to fight the ban.

In March, Sharapova said at a press conference in Los Angeles that she had been taking the performance-enhancing drug since 2006, without knowing that it was included in the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list for 2016.

Nike said Wednesday it is lifting the suspension that it imposed on the eight-year, $70 million contract with Sharapova after news of her failed drugs test was announced in March.

Nike said it will continue to partner with Sharapova, noting that the ITF Tribunal found Sharapova did not intentionally break the rules.

Sharapova's racket sponsor Head, which had supported the tennis player even when she tested positive for the banned drug, said they will continue to support her and that the process of banning Sharapova was "flawed".

Meanwhile, Evian said it "has decided to maintain its long-lasting relationship with the champion".

But among Sharapova's other sponsors, German luxury car maker Porsche said it will wait to see the outcome of her appeal against the ban.

Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer, which suspended its relations with Sharapova in March, said that it did not rule out working with her in the future.

Cosmetic brand Avon said it will sever all ties with Sharapova, but added that the decision had nothing to do with the ban and was a "limited engagement".