Bad news for Maria Sharapova’s tennis career this morning as the results of an international drug test have revealed she was taking an illegal drug. She has been banned for two years as punishment.
The Russian tennis player was taking meldonium, a heart disease drugs she has been taking since 2006 for health reasons, however it became a banned substance from the beginning of this year.
She was provisionally banned in March after being tested for it at the Australian Open.
Sharapova has since revealed that she will challenge the suspension, as she didn’t know it was a banned substance, and she has called the ban ‘unfairly harsh’.
She was Forbes’ highest-paid female athlete for 11 years, however Serena Williams beat her to the post this year.
She has said of the incident: “I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans… your love and support has gotten me through these tough days.
“I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that’s why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible.”
