Goan schools to trash the chapter on Maria Sharapova over dope disgrace

Panaji, July 29: Goan schools are set to axe the chapter on the professional tennis player. The five time Grand Slam winner and Olympic medallist is currently serving a two-year suspension after she tested positive for banned substance meldonium at this year’s Australian Open.

The chapter, titled ‘Reach for the Top’ speaks about the tennis player and describes how Sharapova reached the peak of her career through her “unwavering desire to succeed and her willingness to sacrifice”. The chapter was introduced in Goan textbooks for Class IX.

The move comes after academicians, educationists and parents complained to Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (GBSHSE) requesting them to drop the English chapter on the sports celebrity. The board which immediately took cognizance of the complaint had issued a circular promising to do the needful.

“Teachers are hereby requested that while teaching the above unit to focus on moral values, negative impact on the use of unfair means and proper character development so as to be responsible citizen in order to build a good society and a strong nation. In the next revision of the text book, the said unit shall be excluded from the book,” read the circular issued.