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Sharapova in action at the French Open. Andrew Medichini

Women's Tennis Association not happy with French Open's Maria Sharapova snub

The WTA claim the reasoning is wrong.

THE WOMEN’S TENNIS Association (WTA) have criticised the decision not to give two-time winner Maria Sharapova a wild card to this year’s event.

Ranked too low to gain direct entry after a 15-month drugs ban, the Russian was refused a wild card entry on the basis that the French Tennis Federation (FFT) had a “mission to protect the high standards” of tennis.

“There can be a wildcard for the return from injuries – there cannot be a wildcard for the return from doping.”

However, the move to snub the two-time winner has disappointed the WTA.

“I don’t agree with the basis for their decision. She has complied with the sanction,” said chief executive Steve Simon.

“There are no grounds to penalise any player beyond the sanctions set forth in the final decisions resolving these matters.”

Maria Sharapova denied French Open wild card

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Sep 26th 2012, 9:37 PM

    Must be something in it there is a lot of managers before saying stuff about Fergie the bully of refs just look at Howard Webb why it it’s only when someone says something said about united the FA come done hard is it because there chairman sits on the FA board I wonder ?

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    Mute Joe Hackett
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    Sep 26th 2012, 9:57 PM

    What?

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    Mute David O'Sulivan
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    Sep 26th 2012, 11:40 PM

    David Gill was voted on the FA board by the premier league chairmen… As was David Dein, former Arsenal chairman, who Gill replaced, don’t be so ambiguous with your facts

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    Mute colm connolly
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    Sep 27th 2012, 12:17 AM

    Just another bitter Abu, learn your facts before you make stupid statements

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Sep 27th 2012, 6:58 AM

    A lot of manure supporters on here

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Sep 27th 2012, 8:46 AM

    Learn my facts why is the chairman not on the board

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    Mute David O'Sulivan
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    Sep 27th 2012, 8:48 AM

    What?

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    Mute colm connolly
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    Sep 27th 2012, 8:49 AM

    Seriously Gavin get a clue

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    Mute Gavin Doyle
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    Sep 27th 2012, 8:51 AM

    Start thinking the manure way u mean no thanks

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    Sep 27th 2012, 9:19 AM

    Gavin please stop using the term manure, it derives from a particularly nasty Munich chant originating from Leeds fans, David Gill sits on the board, as Dein did previously, as the Premier Leagues representative, he has no control or leverage over the disciplinary procedure, if he did do you think Sir Alex would have had a touch line ban in each of the last two years, or Rooney have been rightly made an example of after his foul mouthed tirade down the camera after the West Ham game the year before last.

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