Maria Sharapova has been given a wild card into the hard-court event in Toronto, joining the ranks of WTA events that have offered the Russian a spot as she returns from an anti-doping suspension.
"She has served her suspension and we know our guests will be excited to see her play," said tournament director Karl Hale in a statement.
Sharapova has taken wild cards into Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome since her return, and also accepted one into Birmingham. She was also offered wild cards into Strasbourg and Nurnberg. She was refused by the French Open, though, and plans to play qualifying rather than seek a wild card for Wimbledon. The Grand Slam events are independent of the WTA tour, and wild cards are also an individual tournament decision at the WTA level.
WTA CEO Steve Simon previously issued a statement opposing the French Open's decision.
"Wild cards are offered at tournaments' sole discretion," he said. "What I do not agree with is the basis put forward by the FFT for their decision with respect to Maria Sharapova. She has complied with the sanction imposed by Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"…There are no grounds for any member of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme to penalize any player beyond the sanctions."
Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a heart and blood boosting drug, at the 2016 Australian Open, saying that she had taken it for many years and did not know it had been banned at the beginning of 2016. She received a reduced 15-month suspension from the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which found she did not deliberately break the rules.
There has also been split opinion from players, with Canada's top-ranked WTA player, Eugenie Bouchard, among those who have expressed the most opposition. Bouchard called Sharapova a "cheater," adding that providing her with wild cards "sends the wrong message to kids."
Sharapova confirmed her plan to participate.
“I have some great memories of playing Toronto in the past,” she said in a statement, “and the tournament and the fans have always been so supportive. This is one of the biggest events of the year and I hope to play my best tennis that week."
Sharapova, who has played three events in her comeback, is No. 173 in the rankings.