The United Nations announced on Monday that they would be severing ties with Maria Sharapova after her failed drugs test. 

The tennis star had been a Goodwill Ambassador for the organisation, a role she took up in 2007 as part of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

After she announced that she had taken the banned substance Meldonium at a press conference earlier in March, she has been provisionally suspended from March 12th pending an investigation.

A spokeswoman from the UNDP said that "the United Nations Development Programme remains grateful to Maria Sharapova for her support of our work, especially around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster recovery.

"However, in light of Ms Sharapova’s recent announcement, we last week suspended her role as a Goodwill Ambassador and any planned activities while the investigation continues. We wish Ms Sharapova the best". 

A number of other organisations have moved to distance themselves from Sharapova in the wake of the failed test, including Nike and Tag Heuer. 

Via BBC