Maria Sharapova has been suspended by the International Tennis Federation for two years for doping.
Maria Sharapova may not have enjoyed the success of Serena Williams in recent years at the top of female tennis, but she’s still been one of the biggest names in the sport for years and is one of the most well-known athletes in the world. Now, she’ll be out of action for two years after being suspended by the International Tennis Federation for doping.
BREAKING: Maria Sharapova suspended for two years by International Tennis Federation for doping.
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 8, 2016
Sharapova failed the drug test at the Australian Open due to the substance meldonium, which she had been taking over the last 10 years due to health issues, despite the substance being illegal (via The Guardian):
"The 29-year-old Russian said she had been using the substance [meldonium], under the name of mildronate, after it was prescribed by her doctor in 2006 to deal with health issues such as an irregular heartbeat and a history of diabetes in her family."
On her Facebook page, Sharapova announced that she will be appealing against the ban immediately. It’s obviously unsurprising given the two-year length, and her stature as one of the biggest names in tennis and athletes in the world in general could turn this case into something that won’t blow over easily.
She won’t be able to compete in another grand slam until the 2018 French Open.
Before Serena Williams took over, Maria Sharapova had been the highest-paid female athlete in the world for 11 years over the 2000s. As she built up a reputation after tirelessly being a threat in every major competition, always appearing with her powerful strokes and relentless screams, she won Wimbledon (2004), the US Open (2006), Australian Open (2008), and the French Open twice (2012 and 2014).
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Sharapova’s two-year absence is a major blow for the sport and one of the most shocking, high-profile bans in recent sport history. This adds even more potency to the constant issue of doping that cannot be ignored, even for the world’s biggest stars.
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