Maria Sharapova takes her mind further off doping scandal by launching Sugarpova Chocolate range in Chicago as she misses French Open in Paris

• Maria Sharapova failed a drugs test during January's Australian Open 
• The 29-year-old tested positive for banned substance meldonium 
• Sharapova is keeping her mind off the situation by launching new range 
• She was promoting her new Sugarpova Chocolate range in Chicago on Tuesday  

Maria Sharapova may well be missing out on the red clay courts of Roland Garros this week but she hasn't allowed that to stop her promoting her confectionery business Sugarpova in Chicago.

The former Russian tennis world No 1, who admitted on March 7 that she had tested positive for the banned substance meldonium, would usually be spending this time of year in Paris with her fellow female competitors.

She didn't look too bothered by not being in the thick of the action, however, as she posed with some of the products that are part of the new Sugarpova Chocolate range.

Maria Sharapova was in Chicago on Tuesday promoting her new range of Sugarpova Chocolate

Sharapova was more than happy to joke around during the launch event and took time to get her pose right

She clearly looked to be enjoying herself while not playing tennis following a positive test for meldonium

Sharapova appeared very relaxed and was smiling throughout the launch event on Tuesday, which was certainly a sign that she appears to be keeping her tennis and business career apart.

Ever since she gave a press conference informing the world's media of her positive test at the Australian Open, she has tried to keep herself busy and the pictures taken in Chicago show once again that she seems to be coping well.

She has tried to keep herself busy ever since she gave a press conference on March 7 admitting the test

She has dedicated the time she has spent away from tennis recently in growing her confectionery business 

Sharapova poses in front a number of different chocolates that are in her new Sugarpova range 

She stunned the world in March when she said she had returned a positive test for the Latvian-made heart medication which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA's) banned list from January 1.

The world's highest-paid sportswoman claimed to have been taking meldonium on doctor's orders for 10 years and had failed to note it had become a banned substance until hearing of her failed test at this year's first grand slam.

Sharapova would usually be on the red clay in Paris but instead was handling business media commitments

She remained upbeat throughout the launch and looked to be staying positive despite being off the tennis court

Shamil Tarpishchev, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation, recently backtracked on earlier comments that he made about Sharapova.

He had initially told the R-Sport news agency that her situation was 'bad' and that it was 'very doubtful' that she would be able to resume her career.

She failed a drugs test during January's Australian Open and gave a press conference on March 7 this year

Tarpishchev later clarified his comments by saying to Tass news agency: 'I only said she can't play now because no ruling on her case has been issued.'

Meanwhile, in Paris one of Sharapova's rivals on the court, Serena Williams, made it through to second round of the French Open. 

She thrashed Magdalena Rybarikova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-0 as she began her 2015 title defence.

 Sharapova has won 35 singles titles during her storied career, including five at Grand Slam competitions

One of the other favourites for this year's tournament, Angelique Kerber, was the victim of a shock upset as Dutch player Kik Bertens beat her 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

Britain's Johanna Konta and Laura Robson failed to reach the second round. Konta, the British No and 20th seed, was beaten 6-2, 6-3 by Julia Goerges of Germany.

Robson lost 6-2, 6-2 to 28th seed and German Andrea Petkovic.