Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has become the latest and highest profile victim of a string of doping scandals hitting the sport of tennis, after she was banned for testing positive for a banned substance.
Sharapova, who remains the highest paid woman in professional women’s tennis, tested positive for meldonium; a substance used to treat diabetes and low magnesium, but which was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) this in January.
Meldonium made the banned list because scientists have determined despite its health benefits; it boosts athletic performance in a manner that has been deemed illegal.
Sharapova failed the drug test, which was administered at this year’s Australian Open. Her suspension, provisionally, takes effect from the 12th of March, pending a hearing. She faces a four year ban, which is the stipulation for a positive test for a controlled substance- although it can be reduced taking mitigating circumstances into consideration.
“I made a huge mistake. I let my fans down and I let the sport down,” the five time Grand Slam champion told a news conference in Los Angeles after the news broke.
“I know that with this I face consequences and I don’t want to end my career this way. I really hope that I will be given another chance to play this game,”
Already, sportswear giants Nike has dropped their sponsorship of the star, as has Swiss watch manufacturing firm Tag Heuer.