One of the world’s greatest sports stars Maria Sharapova has been banned from tennis by the International Tennis Federation for two years. The reason for the ban is a failed drugs test but Sharapova insists that she will appeal to ban so she can continue playing the sport that she loves. Meldonium was detected in her system back in January at the Australian Open. However, she had claimed that she is taking it for heath reasons and not to enhance her playing abilities. She described the consumption of the drug as ‘unintentional.’
Though it does seem a little unfair since the drug was only a banned substance from the 1st January 2016, while Sharapova has reportedly been taking the substance for a long time before the ban. The Russian tennis player is highly decorated and has won 5 grand slams and also won a silver medal at the London Olympics in 2012. The ban will mean she cannot compete at the Rio games this summer.
She was also the first Russian ever to win the top prize at Wimbledon, which is considered to be the highlight of the tennis calendar. However, the tennis star who is worth $125 million has remained defiant stating ‘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.’