Athletes from Russia and Belarus, Moscow's closest ally in the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, are barred from the Paris Games except for the few who will compete as neutral athletes without flags or anthems.
Maria Sharapova will be the Russian delegation's flag-bearer at next month's Olympic opening ceremony in London, Russia's tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday.
Russia have been dealt a huge blow ahead of this weekend's Fed Cup final against the Czech Republic after their number one player Vera Zvonareva was ruled out because of a shoulder injury.
Maria Sharapova will lead Russia in their Fed Cup first-round tie against France next year, the country's tennis chief said on Tuesday.
Russia are the overwhelming favourites when they host Argentina in this weekend's Davis Cup final.
Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev expects Maria Sharapova to represent her country at this year's Olympics in Brazil despite being provisionally suspended from the game after testing positive for a banned substance.
Dmitry Tursunov will take on Andy Roddick in Friday's first singles of the Russia-US Davis Cup final while Mikhail Youzhny meets James Blake in the second.
Keen player and avid fan Boris Yeltsin is responsible f or making tennis popular in Russia.
World number four Nikolay Davydenko returned to action on Saturday when he teamed up with Igor Andreev to give Russia a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup quarter-final against the Czech Republic on Saturday. Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev had left out Davydenko from Friday's singles after he flew in late to Moscow following his triumph in Miami last weekend.
Russia have recalled Marat Safin for next month's Davis Cup first-round tie against Serbia.
Russia's captain Shamil Tarpishchev has ruled out chance of drafting Marat Safin in late for this week's final against USA.
Russia coach Shamil Tarpishchev, whose team faces the United States in this weekend's Davis Cup final, compares his job to that of a national football team manager before an important World Cup or Euro qualifier
The world number two was not invited by team captain Shamil Tarpishchev after she pulled out of last week's semi-final against the United States citing a shoulder injury.
Marat Safin has withdrawn from the Russia team for the Davis Cup quarter-final against France with a knee injury
The Australian Open champion will lead Russia in next month's Davis Cup World Group opening round tie against Chile.
Champions Russia have opted to play on clay when they host Germany in the Davis Cup semi-finals, Russian tennis chief Shamil Tarpishchev said on Monday.
Safin, troubled by pain in his left knee for the last two months, had a small operation this week in Italy to repair a ligament tear.
The Australian Open champion has not fully recovered from a knee injury and will miss next month's Masters Cup in Shanghai.
Maria Sharapova has been left out of Russia's Fed Cup first-round tie against Italy later this month because of her hectic tournament schedule
'We really hope that Sharapova will still be allowed to take part in the Olympic Games.'
Former World No 1 Maria Sharapova is expected to face a disciplinary hearing over a drug violation in June.
Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova has been provisionally named in her country's squad for the forthcoming Rio Olympics.
World number one Serena Williams slammed Shamil Tarpishchev for using "extremely sexist, racist and bullying" comments after the Russian Tennis Federation (RTF) president described her and sister Venus as the "Williams brothers".
The situation of Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is "bad" after she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and she may never play again, R-Sport news agency quoted Shamil Tarpishchev, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, as saying.
Maria Sharapova, the Russian five-time Grand Slam champion who became one of the highest paid sportswomen in the world, announced her retirement at the age of 32 on Wednesday. The former world number has played only two matches this year, losing in the first round of the Australian Open, with her ranking sliding to 373.
'The situation with Sharapova could be resolved after April 21 when we meet with the head of the international federation. After that all should be become clear. It is too early to talk about Sharapova competing at the Olympic Games'
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