[Ruthie]

I'm with Wozza and Muzza on this.  She should work her way back rather than waltz back in with wild cards regardless of what she may have achieved in the past (cf Halep).

[Iluvandy]

Seconded.  Also what sort of message does this send out - cheat, serve your ban, and then you'll be rewarded with wild cards?  I don't care how high a player's ranking is, he/she should be treated the same as anyone else.

I also understand that Wimbledon are considering the matter, so I do hope they exercise common sense and make Maria play in the qualifying for a place in the main draw.  The same should go for RG and the USO, but maybe these countries have different standards from us so might offer her one anyway.

I'll be very disappointed if Wimbledon offer her a wild card.    I think it sends out the wrong message.   Taking drugs is no big deal.

[Aileen]

The current news is that RG too is considering what to do but it does sound as though they could take a firm stance on this -

The new President of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) Bernard Giudicelli has cast doubt on whether Maria Sharapova will be granted a wildcard for her first Grand Slam due back, Roland Garros.

Giudicelli told L'Equipe newspaper that no decision had yet been made, but that he would be reluctant.
 
'We can't invest a million and a half Euros in the fight against anti-doping and then invite a player sanctioned for the consumption of a prohibited product,' he said

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-4276606/Maria-Sharapova-faces-French-Open-snub-wildcard.html

[amongsttheleaves]

Just seen that the ITF has banned a player for not taking a drug test. It shows home inept they are as he had retired 18 months earlier. Also I see a huge number of athletes have confessed to doping in their careers. Perhaps the ITF could try to ask the same.

The player had not informed the ITF in writing of his retirement and was therefore still a registered player and subject to doping control.

On the flip side of this: there have been a few incidents in the past where players have retired, de-registered themselves from doping control with the ITF, and then wanted to come back to do mixed doubles or something and couldn't enter the slam they intended to enter because the forgot to inform the ITF of their return in writing and were therefore not registered for doping control.

[moonglow]

^  But since she said she had fair reason (that isn't quite what she said) to miss 3 tests, and that she tried to tell the ITF this reason, then I don't know why the ITF didn't want to listen to her.
I don't know if she exactly "got away with missing 3 tests" but why didn't the ITF "pull her up" after she'd missed the first test - why leave it until 3?
But also - did she have 3 valid reasons to miss them?

[moonglow]

"Valuable reasons" - but she can't say what they are?  But whatever they are she should have told the ITF.
I suppose she would say "I've done nothing wrong".
We'll have to wait and see what happens in March.

[moonglow]

!t does seem strange.  She says she told the ITF, but she says they ignored what she said, but the ITF denied they ignored her.
So who are we supposed to believe?!
They mustn't have ignored the third reason, so they'll be looking at that.
They might decide to ban her - I don't know.
But they can't just let it go - they'll have to do something.