Maria Sharapova has been suspended as a goodwill ambassador by the United Nations after the former world No. 1 admitted she had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at this year's Australian Open. The UN Development Program (UNDP), for which the five-time Grand Slam winner became a goodwill ambassador in February 2007, suspended the Russian until the outcome of the investigation into her case is known. "In light of Ms. Sharapova's recent announcement, we last week suspended her role as a Goodwill Ambassador and any planned activities while the investigation continues. We wish Ms. Sharapova the best," the UNDP told Reuters in an emailed statement. Sharapova's work with the UN focused mainly on helping survivors of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, but links to her profile on the UN's official website (www.un.org) were not working Tuesday. "The United Nations Development Program remains grateful to Maria Sharapova for her support of our work, especially around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster recovery," the statement added. Sharapova, the highest-paid woman in world sport, has been losing sponsors ever since she announced the failed test at a press conference on March 7. Nike, the world's largest sportswear maker, Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and German luxury car maker Porsche have suspended their ties with her. The 28-year-old faces a ban of up to four years pending the outcome of an investigation by the International Tennis Federation. IOC, WADA to reanalyze 2008, 2012 doping samples Selected samples from the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in Beijing and London are to be reanalyzed ahead of the Rio Games in an initiative aimed at protecting clean athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced Tuesday. The tests will be carried out before August's Olympic Games in Rio, with the results known in a "number of weeks or months", according to IOC medical and scientific director Richard Budgett. The reanalysis of hundreds of samples is already under way the IOC said. — Agencies
