Maria Sharapova has been denied a wildcard for this year’s French Open.

The 30-year-old Russian returned from a 15-month doping ban last month and was ranked too low to gain direct entry to the tournament.

‘There can be a wildcard for the return from injuries – there cannot be a wildcard for the return from doping,’ French Tennis Federation chief Bernard Giudicelli Ferrandini said.

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‘I’m very sorry for Maria, very sorry for her fans. They might be very disappointed, she might be very disappointed, but it’s my responsibility, my mission, to protect the high standards of the game played, without any doubt on the result.’

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