Maria Sharapova is not going to Rio, but in this instance, it was not the athlete's decision. The former world number one in women's tennis, was appealing her ban from the sport, well case has not been resolved, and is being deferred until September. The Russian took her doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The tennis star is currently serving a two-year ban for taking a banned substance, she was hoping to have it overturned in time to play at next month's Olympics.
The Lausanne based tribunal says that it needs more time to 'complete and respond to their respective evidentiary submissions', and that 'A decision is expected to be issued by September 19th'. Sharapova was banned last month following a positive test for the banned drug meldonium during January's Australian Open. The 29-year-old former world number one was named in Russia's official entry list for the Olympics tennis tournament, but this decision means she is ineligible to play.