French Open slammed for Sharapova 'double standards'

French Open officials have been criticised for giving a wildcard to a player suspended for betting on matches, but not Maria Sharapova.

Sharapova's hopes of a third French Open crown were shattered on Wednesday when organisers refused to grant her a wildcard.

"You can get a wildcard when you return from injury but you cannot get a wildcard when returning from a doping suspension," FFT president Bernard Giudicelli said during a news conference broadcast live on Facebook.

"I appreciate the media impact of Maria, I appreciate the broadcasters' expectations but in conscience, it was not possible to go beyond the anti-doping code and beyond the application of the rules."

Sharapova. Image: Getty

However WTA chief executive Steve Simon later released a statement conceding while wildcards were issued at the "sole discretion" of tournaments, he disagreed with "the basis put forward by the FFT for their decision".

"She has complied with the sanction imposed by CAS," he said.

"The tennis anti-doping program (TADP) is a uniform effort supported by the Grand Slams, WTA, ITF and ATP.

"There are no grounds for any member of the TADP to penalise any player beyond the sanctions set forth in the final decisions resolving these matters."

And Simon isn't the only one unhappy with the decision.

Former Australian Sports Drugs Agency CEO Richard Ings has called Guidicelli a "hypocrite" after France's Constant Lestienne was given a wildcard into qualifying.

Lestienne was suspended last year for betting on tennis matches and stripped of his wildcard into the 2016 French Open.

"The media should quiz the FFT President on how a wildcard to a banned corruption offender will protect the high standards of the game," Ings said.

In stark contrast, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash has congratulated the French Tennis Federation on not giving Sharapova a wildcard and urged Wimbledon to do the same.

"I think well done to them (FFT). I think it is absolutely the correct decision," he told the BBC.

"She certainly should not be getting benefits from the fact that she got caught using an illegal drug.

Cash said he was disappointed the Italian federation had offered up a wildcard this week but hoped there'd be no such offer from Wimbledon officials.

"I would hope they (Wimbledon) would stay strong and say 'no sorry, you have got to go through and play qualifying'," Cash said.

"I certainly think the All England Club need to stand up and make a stance about this and say we are not rewarding drug cheats."

For her part Sharapova said she remains fully committed to making a successful comeback from her doping ban, regardless of what assistance she receives.

"If this is what it takes to rise up again, then I am in it all the way, everyday," Sharapova said on Twitter on Wednesday. "No words, games, or actions will ever stop me from reaching my own dreams. And I have many."

with AAP