There are few things purer than water.
So it only makes sense convicted drug cheat Maria Sharapova should be the star of the show at an Evian advertising campaign launch in Los Angeles on Thursday.
The Russian tennis ace was looking in fine form as she flaunted her athletic physique at a venue in the trendy West Hollywood area.
A bit of all white: Drug cheat Maria Sharapova looked in fine form at an Evian advertising campaign launch in Los Angeles on Thursday
Blonde beauty Maria, who is gearing up for her return to the WTA Tour next month, looked fit as a fiddle in a right white dress as she stood in front of a wall of water bottles.
The Scot said: ‘I think you should really have to work your way back… (but) If they think having big names there is going to sell more seats, then they’re going to do that.’
Last year the five-time grand slam winner claimed her two year suspension for taking drugs being reduced by nine months by a Court of Arbitration for Sport panel was a victory, despite the fact she concealed the fact she was using meldonium from tennis authorities and even her own team for years.
Water interesting choice: The convicted drug cheat was promoting a brand noted for its purity
Rearly impressive: Maria’s pert posterior proved she has been working hard as she prepares to make her tennis comeback
Her sponsors mainly stood by her, with racquet manufacturer Head going so far as to publicly congratulate her after the ban was reduced.
The former Wimbledon champion said, upon the announcement of her failed test, that she used the drug for health issues after being given it by her family doctor.
Meldonium was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency on January 1 due to its ability to increase the delivery of oxygen to muscles, in turn improving stamina and endurance.
Maria admitted she received an email from the agency on December 22, reminding her of the alterations to the list of banned substances but claimed she did not bother to click on the link provided.
The International Tennis Federation said in June, upon announcing her initial two-year ban, that Sharapova’s use of meldonium ‘is only consistent with an intention to boost her energy levels’.
