Sharapova and sexism

The Independent has been quick off the mark in turning the latest sporting drugs debacle into one of its favourite memes.

Brands have been quick to drop Maria Sharapova without trial – but they aren’t so hasty with their male athletes

This brand dump is a strange move for Nike, considering the sportswear giant let Gatlin off the hook and stood by Armstrong, Woods, Michael Vick and even Oscar Pistorius during ‘troubled times’

Nothing to do with Sharapova’s fading attractions as a tennis star worth sponsoring?

Let’s see.

Maria Sharapova is 28 years old and currently ranked 7 in the WTA rankings. She has had a fine if injury-prone career, but her best days were probably behind her even without this latest problem. Sponsoring brands will have had replacements lined up for some time.

The meldonium episode has merely triggered what was probably coming anyway. It isn’t likely to be sexism.