Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova said Monday in Los Angeles that she tested positive for the banned substance Meldonium at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The 28-year-old Sharapova – winner of five Grand Slam titles, 35 singles titles and currently ranked 7th in the world – discussed the failed doping test during a press conference, saying that Meldonium is a substance she had begun taking in 2006 to help her with a variety of health problems.
However, the drug – said to increase physical and mental performance – was added to a list of banned substances in early 2016 and she said she was unaware of its change in status, adding that she took full responsibility for that oversight.
“I don’t want to end my career this way,” Sharapova said. “I really hope I will be given another chance to play this game.”
The Russian – who is the richest sportwoman in the world – has not played since she lost her quarterfinals match at the Australian Open.
Off the court, she has been highly successful in modeling, fashion design and marketing.
Meanwhile, the International Tennis Federation announced Monday that Sharapova will be temporarily suspended from the sport starting March 12.
The ITF said in a statement that “In accordance with Article 8.1.1 of the (Tennis Anti-Doping Program), Ms. Sharapova was charged on 2 March with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation … Ms. Sharapova will be provisionally suspended with effect from 12 March, pending determination of the case.”
