Maria Sharapova Banned From Tennis For Two Years After Failing Drug Test

No ‘love’ for Maria.

Maria Sharapova has received a two-year suspension from the International Tennis Federation, following her admission in March that she’d failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

Sharapova stunned press when she came forward to say she’d tested positive for the drug Mildronate (also known as meldonium), which was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list on January 1 this year.

She claims she’d been taking the drug since 2006 to treat her magnesium deficiency and didn’t realise that it had been added to the banned substance list.

The IFT wasn’t buying her excuses, announcing today that the former world No.1 would spend the next two years on the sidelines.

They had sought a four-year suspension (the maximum punishment) but told CNN they won’t appeal the decision.

Sharapova, however, immediately took to Facebook to say that she’ll be challenging the ITF tribunal’s decision with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” she said.

Though Sharapova lost some sponsors over the scandal, Nike said in a statement today it "will continue to partner" with the fallen star. "We hope to see Maria back on court," the sportswear giant added.

Photo: Facebook.