"When people actually are doing drugs, the truth comes out" - When Serena Williams took a dig at Maria Sharapova over her doping controversy

Serena Williams, who dealt with doping accusations all her career, often called out players with an actual doping history. She seemingly targeted Maria Sharapova during one particular conversation in 2020.

After crashing out in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open against Williams, Sharapova revealed that she had tested positive for a drug called meldonium. The Russian said she wasn’t aware that meldonium was banned, and admitted to consuming it for health reasons for over a decade.

Sharapova was slapped with a two-year ban for the offense, but the suspension was reduced to 15 months on appeal.

Serena Williams initially praised Maria Sharapova for showing courage in admitting to the breach. The American, however, took several apparent digs at Sharapova in the following months and years.

Notably, on the talk show Game. Set. Chat! hosted by former players Zina Garrison and Chanda Rubin back in 2020, Williams seemingly taunted the five-time Grand Slam champion for escaping a harsher punishment. She also claimed that "truth always comes out."

“That’s what I’ve always said. I don’t really care about my results on the court. For me, it’s stuff that – what is the purpose of your life? What is that?” she said, as Rubin praised one of Williams' previous kind acts towards her.

“So that’s why, lot of the stuff really, genuinely doesn’t affect me. And turns out that when people actually are doing drugs, the truth comes out. And then they get banned for not long enough,” Williams said, seemingly referring to Maria Sharapova.

---

Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian allegedly threw shade at Maria Sharapova over her doping scandal during US Open 2019 match

Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at the 2019 US Open

Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian also seemingly mocked Maria Sharapova during the pair’s meeting at the 2019 US Open.

The 2019 US Open opening-round match was Sharapova and Williams' first clash since the 2016 Australian Open. Williams registered an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 win to advance to the second round.

At the end of the match, Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian took a not-so-subtle dig at Sharapova by revealing his D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) T-shirt, which he had initially hid under his jacket.

The 2019 US Open marked the final match in Williams and Sharapova’s 15-year-long rivalry. The two faced each other a staggering 22 times, with Williams coming out on top in all but two matches.