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The player-turned-commentator weighed in on the recent news
that Sharapova tested positive for a newly banned drug meldonium
that went into effect on January 1.
"Would be hard to believe that no one in her camp, the 25 or 30
people that work for her, or Maria herself had no idea that this
happened," McEnroe told the Tennis Channel Saturday during the
BNP Paribas Open.
McEnroe noted that at the 1990 Australian Open he was ejected
from a match after he did not realize a rule change that reduced
a player's default from four steps to just three.
"Nobody told me, so it is possible that Maria did not know that,
though it's extremely doubtful," he said.
Sharapova, 28, is facing a suspension of up to four years by the
International Tennis Federation (ITF) and has already lost
numerous sponsorships in the aftermath.
McEnroe joked that Sharapova should only be banned for two years
because she says she did it unknowingly.
"Lift the ban, there's no suspension if when she comes back she
promises not to grunt," McEnroe added in jest. "If you don't
grunt Maria, no suspension. If you continue to grunt, two
years."
(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; editing by Amlan
Chakraborty)
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