Coughlin, J.; Fritz, N.; O’Rourke, J. S. (editor)
Notre Dame
January 17, 2018
SKU: BUS-276
Maria Sharapova, the world’s highest-paid female athlete for 11-straight years and five-time Grand Slam tennis champion, admitted testing positive for the banned drug Meldonium during the 2016 Australian Open. Following her admission, sponsors such as Nike, Porsche, and Tag Heuer quickly distanced themselves from Sharapova as she began her two-year suspension. This case examines the consequences on Sharapova and her multi-million-dollar brand, the value of celebrity endorsements and their associated risks, and the effects of social media reactions during a crisis. 11 pp. Case # 17- 09
