The United Nations has suspended Maria Sharapova as a goodwill ambassador after she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.
The Russian tennis star had been an ambassador for the UN Development programme since 2007, and had been active in helping recovery efforts after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
Announcing the move, a spokesperson said: "The United Nations Development Programme remains grateful to Maria Sharapova for her support of our work, especially around the Chernobyl nuclear disaster recovery.
"However, in light of Ms Sharapova's recent announcement, we last week suspended her role as a Goodwill Ambassador and any planned activities while the investigation continues."
"We wish Ms Sharapova the best," they added.
The former world number one announced last week she failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January.
The 28-year-old tested positive for meldonium, which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned listed in January.
Sportswear giant Nike, luxury car maker Porsche and watchmaker TAG Heuer have all cut ties with Sharapova in the wake of the news.
Sharapova had visited Belarus as goodwill ambassador and donated $100,000 (£70,000) to support youth projects in rural areas suffering from the after-effects of the Chernobyl nuclear accident.
Her family fled the Belarussian city of Gomel in 1987 after the disaster, moving to Siberia, where the tennis star was born.
The family lived in Nyagan for two years and then moved to Sochi on the Black Sea, where Sharapova took her first tennis lessons.
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