Andy Murray suggests players returning from drugs bans should NOT be allowed to compete at Wimbledon 2017
World No1 claims tournament bosses will need to decide whether to allow Maria Sharapova a wildcard to tournament
ANDY MURRAY has sensationally claimed that drugs cheats should be snubbed for wildcards for this summer's Wimbledon.
The Brit star and world No1, 29, believes players returning from bans - such as Maria Sharapova - should not be handed a wildcard in order to make it to the biggest Grand Slam of the year.
Sharapova was handed a 15-month suspension for testing positive for meldonium - a banned substance - and will be free to take to the court in April, with Wimbledon kicking-off in July.
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On the prospect of banned stars being allowed into Wimbledon 2017, Murray told : “I think you should really have to work your way back.
“However, the majority of tournaments are going to do what they think is best for their event.
"If they think having big names there is going to sell more seats, then they’re going to do that.”
Murray did single out Sharapova at one stage, urging tournaments officials not only allow the Russian into SW19 should she qualify via her world ranking.
The Dunblane ace added: “She [Sharapova] has an opportunity to try to improve her ranking up until that point and potentially not need a wild card.
“But then if she doesn’t, that becomes Wimbledon’s decision and how they want to play that.
"I’m sure they’ll think long and hard about it and how they feel people will view it and then make the right decision for them.”
While Wimbledon don't need Sharapova to boost their tournament's already sky-high profile, the Russian is an honour club member, having won the singles title in 2004.
SW19 bosses will need to decide come May whether to hand her a wildcard - particularly if she has reached the top-100 milestone.
To qualify through merit alone, Sharapova would need to earn at least 600 ranking points from the three tournaments in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome.
That would mean the Russian would almost certainly need to reach two semi-finals in those events - but as a former world No1, she has the luxury of being able to apply for as many wildcards to tournaments as she likes.
