It has been a rough 24 hours for Maria Sharapova, the one-time darling of the tennis world watching her empire crumble around her.

You can read this morning’s story in full below, but we’ll look at the two latest sponsors to begin emptying Maria’s coffers first.

Luxury watch brand TAG Heuer called time on their relationship earlier, with EWN reporting:

“Maria Sharapova was under contract with TAG Heuer until 31 December, 2015. We had been in talks to extend our collaboration. In view of the current situation, the Swiss watch brand has suspended negotiations and has decided not to renew the contract.”

Then there’s Porsche, voicing similar concerns according to TimesLive:

We regret the current news about Maria Sharapova. Until further details emerge and we are able to analyse the situation, we have decided to suspend planned activities,” Porsche said in a statement.

When it rains it pours Maria, and it seems like no matter how honest your confession big brands are running for the hills.

THIS MORNING’S STORY

The tennis world was rocked last night by the announcement that Maria Sharapova had failed a drug test at this year’s Australian Open. If you’re not familiar with her name you should be, she’s only the highest earning female athlete in the world.

Now as if having to publicly announce your failed test was Monday blues enough Nike have piled on the misery, releasing a short statement announcing the split:

This below from Fox Sports:

Sharapova brings in a reported $30 million per year in endorsements, much of that from Nike, with whom she has a reported $70 million deal. She’s also endorsed by Porsche, Tag-Heuer, Avon and Cole Haan and also has her own candy line.

The announcement came as something of a shock, most in the know thinking that Nike would wait and see how the public backlash played out before pulling the plug. After all, they do have a history of sticking by male athletes whose names are being dragged through the mud:

[They are] a company known for its loyalty, having controversially stood by Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Ben Roethlisberger through arguably worse times and even re-signing Michael Vick after dumping him following his incarceration on dog fighting charges. Justin Gatlin, the track star who’s a multiple drug cheat, is also back with the company.

Of course the key word here is ‘suspend’, meaning that once the dust settles Nike can go back to lining her pockets.

Hey, if they can keep on paying Michael Vick after he ran a dog-fighting ring then what’s a touch of doping here and there.

[source:foxsports]