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Porsche suspends ties with Maria Sharapova after drug test

Porsche has reportedly suspended ties with Maria Sharapova after the Russian tennis star failed a drug test. The German automaker stopped short of terminating its relationship with the athlete altogether as it awaits the results of a deeper investigation. The issue emerged at the Australian Open, where Sharapova reportedly tested positive for use of a drug called meldonium. Manufactured in Latvia and prescribed in many former Soviet Bloc countries, meldonium is used to treat heart conditions and improve cardiac circulation. It is not approved by the FDA for use in the United States, and the World Anti-Doping Agency added it to its list of prohibited substances at the start of this year. Sharapova admitted that she's been taking the medication for ten years now but that she did not keep up to date on the WADA's list. Since it is considered a prohibited substance, she's been excluded from participating in the Australian Open this year, and suspended from competition as of March 12. She was also scheduled to take part in the Porsche Grand Prix, a tennis event sponsored by the carmaker in Stuttgart next month which she will now apparently have to miss. One of the top-rated female tennis players in the world, Sharapova has served as a brand ambassador for Porsche since 2013. Other sponsors including TAG Heuer and Nike have also reportedly suspended their relationships with the athlete pending further investigation by the International Tennis Federation. Related Video:

Watch Jeff Zwart drive his Porsche GT3 Cup Turbo at Pikes Peak in 4K

There are always fantastic videos documenting the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb, but 2015 is giving us an embarrassment of riches. After seeing clips from some of the record-breaking runs this year, possibly the very best is here somewhat belatedly after the rally. Watching master Porsche pilot Jeff Zwart wind his fire-breathing 911 GT3 Cup Turbo up the mountain was definitely worth the wait. Already no stranger to success at Pikes Peak, this year Zwart won the Time Attack 1 Class with a run of 9:46.243. To make the feat more exciting, his Porsche was outfitted with cameras to perfectly capture his entire race up the course. The external shots truly convey a sense of speed and show how the mountain goes from tree-lined at the bottom to rocky with patches of snow at the top. The film's sublime production shouldn't be too big of a surprise, though, because Will Roegge was director, editor, and among the camera operators for the video. In 2014, he put together a great, short documentary about Zwart's preparation for the mountain and the run, as well. This year was yet another success. At a breezy 4.5 minutes, this clip is definitely a must-see, and the entire thing looks and sounds fantastic no matter how your experience it. However, if you have the capability, the video is also available in 4K. Switching over to the high resolution really makes it possible to pick out all of the gorgeous details. Related Video:

Porsche planning something track-focused for Geneva [w/poll]

At the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month, Porsche has confirmed that it will be showcasing two potentially exciting new models: One is the new Cayman GT4 we've already seen, but we don't know what the other will be just yet. All the German automaker is saying at the moment is that, "the second new model is another exceptional Porsche that sets new standards on the racetrack" and that "this vehicle confirms the sports car manufacturer's commitment to high performance sports cars that manage a very special link between everyday driving and motorsports." Given those two statements, we can probably rule out a crossover or sedan at one end of the spectrum or a purely competition-spec racer at the other. The likelihood is, then, that Porsche's surprise for Geneva will be the new 911 GT3 RS. But then it could be the Boxster-based convertible counterpart to the Cayman GT4 (whether dubbed Boxster GT4, Boxster Spyder or something else), or even a track-tuned version of the 918 Spyder to take on the McLaren P1 GTR and Ferrari FXX K. We'll just have to sit tight to find out, but you're welcome to read the press release below and tell us what you think Zuffenhausen has in store for us at the Swiss expo this year. Double world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show 2015 Porsche shows two new high-performance cars for the first time Stuttgart. Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is celebrating the world premiere of two extreme sports cars at this year's Geneva International Motor Show. The new Cayman GT4 is the first high-performance sports car belonging to the GT family that is based on the mid-engine coupes. Clocking a lap time of seven minutes and 40 seconds on the North Loop of the Nurburgring, the new entry-level model makes a great debut. The second new model is another exceptional Porsche that sets new standards on the racetrack. The world premiere will take place during the Porsche press conference at the Palexpo Arena in Geneva at 11:30 (CET) on March 3, 2015. A live webcast will be available in German and English on: http://porsche.gomexlive.com/. This vehicle confirms the sports car manufacturer's commitment to high performance sports cars that manage to make a very special link between everyday driving and motorsports. These two premieres continue Porsche's tradition of presenting motorsport highlights at the spring car show on the shores of Lake Geneva. The 911 GT3, 918 Spyder and 919 Hybrid all celebrated their debuts in Geneva in recent years.