Russian tennis head backtracks on Sharapova retirement claim

FILE – Maria Sharapova from Russia concentrates during a training session prior to the Fed Cup Final tennis tournament against Czech Republic in Prague, Czech Republic, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015. AP

MOSCOW — The head of the Russian Tennis Federation backtracked on his comments Thursday, saying he didn’t mean to suggest that Maria Sharapova’s failed doping test could spell the end of her career.

Russian news agency R-Sport had quoted Shamil Tarpishchev on Thursday as saying that Sharapova’s situation is “bad” and that it is “very doubtful” that she will resume her career.

“I only said that she can’t play now because no ruling on her case has been issued,” Tarpishchev later told the Tass news agency.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January. She said she had taken the drug for a decade for medical purposes and didn’t know it had been banned for 2016.

Sharapova remains provisionally suspended from competition pending a ruling from the International Tennis Federation.