Maria Sharapova receives two-year ban for meldonium use

Maria Sharapova, who tested positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open in January, has been given a two-year suspension, the International Tennis Federation announced Wednesday.

In announcing the decision, the ITF said the independent tribunal who heard her case on May 18 and 19 determined her suspension should be back-dated to the date of her sample collection because of her “prompt admission of her violation.” Sharapova’s results from the Australian Open are disqualified, causing her to forfeit ranking points and $281,633 prize money.

The ITF’s decision also revealed that an out-of-competition test Sharapova took on Feb. 2 in Moscow had meldonium in the sample.

In a statement on her Facebook page, Sharapova said she would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Maria Sharapova fans unite over shirt with message

"The tribunal found that I did not seek treatment from my doctor for the purpose of obtaining a performance enhancing substance," she said in a statement. "The ITF spent tremendous amounts of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules and the tribunal concluded I did not. You need to know that the ITF asked the tribunal to suspend me for four years – the required suspension for an intentional violation -- and the tribunal rejected the ITF’s position. ...  I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension."

RULING: ITF vs. Maria Sharapova

Sharapova, 29, shocked the tennis world on March 7 when she called an unexpected news  conference at a Los Angeles hotel and announced she had failed a doping test. She said she had taken meldonium for nearly 10 years. It was banned by WADA beginning Jan. 1, 2016.

But neither Sharapova nor members of her team checked the updated banned substance list before Jan. 1.

“I made a huge mistake,” Sharapova said in March. “Throughout my long career I have been very open and honest … I take great responsibility and professionalism in my job every day.

“I don’t want to end my career this way,” she added. “I hope I will be given another chance to play this game.”

The winner of five Grand Slam titles has battled injuries recently, citing a left forearm injury for withdrawing from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Last year she pulled out of the U.S. Open with a right leg injury after not having played since Wimbledon.

In April, the World Anti-Doping Agency issued guidance to International Federations saying provisional suspensions could be lifted if a hearing panel could find an athlete took meldonium before it was banned but later tested positive for it.

The change came after several athletes protested their positive tests, saying they had stopped taking the heart medication once it was banned.

Sharapova has not said when she last took meldonium.

WADA’s research into how long meldonium stays in the body is ongoing and a study into excretion times at its Cologne laboratory is expected to be completed by September, according to WADA spokesman Ben Nichols.

WTA CEO Steve Simon said in a statement that he supports the process. “It is important at all times for players to be aware of the rules and to follow them.  In this case, Maria has taken responsibility for her mistake from the outset.  The WTA supports the process that the ITF and Maria have followed."

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