Maria Sharapova: Racquet manufacturer Head announce they will extend sponsorship contract

'Head is proud to stand behind Maria, now and into the future and we intend to extend her contract'

(Getty Images)

Tennis racquet manufacturer Head have announced they will extend their sponsorship deal with tennus star Maria Sharapova.

The former world No 1 has been dumped by sponsors including Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche after admitting to failing a drugs test after taking the newly banned meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

The 28-year-old Russian insists that she did not take the drug to gain an athletic advantage, but had been using it as medicine since she was a teenager.

Despite the potential of a long ban from tennis and losing up to £100million in sponsorship money, Head announced they will stick by her.

"Head is proud to stand behind Maria, now and into the future and we intend to extend her contract," read a statement.

"For more than a decade, Maria Sharapova has been a role model and woman of integrity who has inspired millions of fans around the world to play and watch tennis.

"The honesty and courage she displayed in announcing and acknowledging her mistake was admirable. We look forward to working with her and to announcing new sponsorships in the weeks and months ahead.

Maria may have made a mistake, but she has earned the benefit of the doubt and we are extending it to her. We look forward to many more years of working with Maria."