Andy Murray has criticized the tennis equipment company Head after it publicly backed Maria Sharapova after her failed drug test.
Murray, who along with Sharapova is sponsored by Head, was preparing Friday to compete in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., and discussed the company's decision to stand by Sharapova after her public admission of using meldonium. She said she took the drug for a heart condition, but it recently was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and led to a failed drug test at the Australian Open.
"I think it's a strange stance given everything that's happened the last few days," Murray said. "I think at this stage it's important to get a hold of the facts and let things play out, like more information coming out before making a decision to extend the contract. Personally, I wouldn't have responded like that."
Shortly after many of Sharapova's other sponsors -- including Nike, TAG Heuer and Porsche -- publicly distanced themselves from her, Head released a statement saying it was "proud to stand behind Maria" and looked forward to "working with her and to announcing new sponsorships in the weeks and months ahead."
Murray displayed little sympathy for the five-time Grand Slam winner's reason for taking the drug.
"If you're taking a prescription drug and you're not using it for what that drug was meant for, you don't need it," Murray said. "You're just using it for the performance-enhancing benefits that drug is giving you."
Sharapova wrote a letter to her fans on Facebook on Friday in which she said she'd been taking the drug since 2006, but she dismissed reports she took it every day. She said she followed doctors' instructions and took it in the "low doses recommended."
Rafael Nadal didn't absolve Sharapova either and said tennis is suffering.
"It's terrible what happened with Maria for the world of tennis, but you have to respect the rules," Nadal told CNN. "The sport must be clean, must look clean, and in general, Maria affects our image in the world of tennis. And now she's in trouble, so she is going to a [tribunal], and we'll see what is going to happen, but if she makes negligence, she has to pay for it."
Rare occurrences
The triple play and inside-the-park home run are two exciting, yet rare, plays in baseball. In 2015, there were 13 inside-the-park home runs and just four triple plays.
Seeing one of those two things during a game is exciting in and of itself, but both happened Thursday in a Cactus League game between the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals. The White Sox pulled off the triple play in the top of the fifth inning when left fielder Jason Coats caught a sinking line drive, then initiated the outs of runners on first and second base. Drew Butera of the Royals pulled off the inside-the-park job with one out and a runner on second base in the seventh inning.
"Setting the bar pretty high here, Spring Training," Chris Landers wrote on the Cut 4 blog on MLB.com. "At this rate, all regular-season games will be required to include multiple grand slams, a balk and a walk-off squeeze play."
Sports quiz
When did Maria Sharapova last win a Grand Slam singles title?
Answer
Sharapova won the French Open in 2014.
Sports on 03/13/2016