Looking shar-ap! Maria Sharapova steps out in NY in chic ensemble after tennis doping ban is reduced

By Ross Mcdonagh For Dailymail.com

Published: 00:03 EST, 5 October 2016 | Updated: 00:03 EST, 5 October 2016

It looks like she'll get to wear all white again sooner than she hoped.

And to celebrate Maria Sharapova rocked a chic all black outfit as she stepped out in New York.

The tennis ace looked confident just hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport granted a reduction in her doping ban from two years to just 15 months.

Looking shar-ap! Maria Sharapova stepped out in NY in a chic ensemble after her tennis doping ban is reduced

Looking shar-ap! Maria Sharapova stepped out in NY in a chic ensemble after her tennis doping ban is reduced

The 29-year-old wore skinny black jeans with ankle strap heels, draping a short black jacket over her bare shoulders and black tank top.

The five-time Grand Slam champion, who has suffered from persistent shoulder injuries, admitted in March she had tested positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open.

A two-year ban was imposed by the International Tennis Federation in June, back-dated to January, and she appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) seeking a reduction.

A 24 month would have meant her missing two years out of the sport, which would almost inevitably had led to her retirement.

Back in the game: The tennis ace looked confident just hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport granted a reduction in her doping ban from two years to just 15 months

Back in the game: The tennis ace looked confident just hours after the Court of Arbitration for Sport granted a reduction in her doping ban from two years to just 15 months

Chic: The 29-year-old wore skinny black jeans with ankle strap heels, draping a short black jacket over her bare shoulders and black tank top.

But now she can return on April 25, which puts her in position to make her comeback at the French Open at Roland Garros in May. 

The Switzerland-based arbitration panel said they had 'found that Ms Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with 'no significant fault', she bore some degree of fault, for which a sanction of 15 months is appropriate'. 

Sharapova said today: 'I've gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April.

Admission: The five-time Grand Slam champion, who has suffered from persistent shoulder injuries, admitted in March she had tested positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open.

Admission: The five-time Grand Slam champion, who has suffered from persistent shoulder injuries, admitted in March she had tested positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open.

'In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it. I am counting the days until I can return to the court.'

The reduced suspension is set to provide a healthy boost to her bank balance with corporate sponsors such as Nike and Porche reaffirming their commitment to the Russian player.

According to Forbes magazine she is the world's highest-paid sportswoman - earning $29.7 million last year, with a career total of almost $300m - most of it from endorsements, appearances and royalties rather than victories on court.

Another shot: A 24 month would have meant her missing two years out of the sport, which would almost inevitably had led to her retirement. But now she can return on April 25, which puts her in position to make her comeback at the French Open at Roland Garros in May

Another shot: A 24 month would have meant her missing two years out of the sport, which would almost inevitably had led to her retirement. But now she can return on April 25, which puts her in position to make her comeback at the French Open at Roland Garros in May

Loaded: According to Forbes magazine she is the world's highest-paid sportswoman - earning $29.7 million last year, with a career total of almost $300m - most of it from endorsements, appearances and royalties rather than victories on court. 

Loaded: According to Forbes magazine she is the world's highest-paid sportswoman - earning $29.7 million last year, with a career total of almost $300m - most of it from endorsements, appearances and royalties rather than victories on court. 

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