United Nation Agency Stops Work With Ambassador Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova has been an ambassador for the United Nations agency, which works to combat poverty and inequality.
- Associated Press
- Updated: March 15, 2016 08:08 PM IST
![United Nation Agency Stops Work With Ambassador Maria Sharapova](https://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2016/mar/806/sharapova-sad.jpg)
A United Nations agency says it has stopped working with Maria Sharapova pending the tennis star's doping case. (Maria Sharapova Says She Made a 'Huge Mistake' and Take Full 'Responsibility')
Sharapova faces being banned by tennis authorities after testing positive for meldonium, a blood-flow enhancing medication.
The New York-based United Nations Development Program says "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." (Maria Sharapova Confirms Failed Drug Test, Provisionally Suspended)
The UNDP "remains grateful to Maria Sharapova for her support of our work, especially around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster recovery."
Since 2007, Sharapova has been an ambassador for the agency which works to combat poverty and inequality.
Her charitable foundation worked with the UNDP to fund education scholarships for people from Chernobyl-affected areas of Belarus.