NEW YORK – Banned tennis star Maria Sharapova recently spent three days working as an intern at the NBA’s offices in Manhattan.
The former world number one is using her time profitably while she awaits the delayed hearing of her appeal against a two-year ban for meldonium use.
During Sharapova’s time at the basketball league’s head offices, she worked alongside commissioner Adam Silver, according to The NY Post.
Related: Drug cheat Maria Sharapova dumped by sponsors
Since her ban, which began in June, the Russian has been unable to play on the tennis circuit, including the Rio Olympics and the upcoming US Open.
She has kept busy diving into academia. She took a two-week class at the Harvard Business School in July and had an internship this summer at an ad agency and Nike.
The 29-year-old, who tested positive for meldonium in January, had hoped the Court of Arbitration for Sport could hear her case by July 18, the deadline for teams to be finalized for Rio.
But with both the ITF and Sharapova needing more time to prepare their cases, as well as scheduling conflicts, CAS has revealed its decision will not be delivered until September 19, a month after the Olympics and a week after the final grand slam of the season, the US Open.
In March Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer pulled out of negotiations to renew its lucrative deal with the Russian star, who previously fronted its campaigns, but Nike – with whom she holds her largest deal – remains behind her.
The company – Sugarpova – brands itself as ‘a premium candy line that reflects the fun, fashionable, sweet side of international tennis sensation Maria Sharapova’.
She is thought to have earned at least $22million this year from her various endorsements and business ventures.
She will not be in New York during the Open.
