The United Nations Development Programme has suspended Maria Sharapova as a goodwill ambassador, following her admission that she tested positive for banned drug meldonium at the Australian Open in January. The UNDP ended its nine-year relationship with the Russian tennis star pending the outcome of the investigation into the matter, The Guardian reported. A spokesperson for the UNDP said they were “grateful” to Sharapova for her support of their work, but had suspended her role as a goodwill ambassador last week. Earlier, Nike, Porsche and Tag Heuer terminated their contracts with Sharapova following her announcement.

Much of her efforts with the UN agency, which works to eradicate poverty and inequality, had been directed towards helping survivors of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster. “Persons of integrity” and those who “possess the personality and dignity required for such high-level representative capacity” are appointed as UN goodwill ambassadors. However, article 28 of the UN guidelines stipulates that the arrangement will be terminated if the ambassador “engages in any activity incompatible with his/her status”.

The former World No.1 was provisionally suspended starting March 12. The International Tennis Federation is expected to confirm further action later. Sharapova faces a ban of up to four years for taking the performance enhancing drug. Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list on January 2 after it was found to help athletes improve their endurance and recovery. However, the 28-year-old tennis player said she took the drug for medical reasons.