Omg! Maria Sharapova Banned For Two Years Over Drug Use

Maria Sharapova received a two-year suspension from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) after testing positive for banned drug, which may end the career of the richest female athlete of the past decade.

According to Pulse news, the ITF made the announcement on Wednesday, ending weeks of speculation about the future of the former world Number 1. Maria Sharapova. The two-year ban is in line with non-specified substances such as meldonium for first-time offenders who aren't deemed to have intentionally cheated.

“The ITF tribunal unanimously concluded that what I did was not intentional," the 29-year-old Sharapova said. "The tribunal found that I did not seek treatment from my doctor for the purpose of obtaining a performance enhancing substance. 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.

Maria Sharapova stunned the world in March when the five-time grand slam winner said in a Los Angeles press conference arranged by her entourage that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open on January 26.

Meldonium isn't approved for use in the U.S. where Sharapova has lived since the age of seven, She started using meldonium under the care of a doctor in Russia, Anatoly Skalny, as part of a mix of 18 supplements and medications for various ailments.

Meldonium was added to the prohibited list "because of evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance," Boosting endurance and helping in the recovery process are potential benefits for athletes. Sharapova took meldonium before matches but never declared it on doping control forms, including at the Australian Open this year. She tested positive five times for meldonium in 2015.

Sharapova, one of tennis' top competitors, vowed to "fight" to return to the court soon. The ban backdated to January, if CAS sticks with the two-year sanction, Sharapova won't be eligible to come back until January 2018.