Maria Sharapova to appeal 'unfairly harsh' 2-year doping ban

London: Russian superstar Maria Sharapova was on Wednesday handed a two-year doping ban but insisted she will appeal the suspension which could effectively end one of sport's most celebrated careers.

Sharapova, 29, tested positive for the controversial banned medication meldonium during January's Australian Open.

A statement by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) said "an Independent Tribunal" had "found that Maria Sharapova committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation" and consequently had "disqualified the affected results and imposed a period of ineligibility of two years, commencing on 26 January 2016".

Read: Maria Sharapova lashes out at critics over positive test

Sharapova blasted the ban as "unfairly harsh" in a statement on her Facebook page.

 

"While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension," fumed Sharapova.

"The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport."

Sharapova slammed the ITF for spending "tremendous amounts of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules" before adding that "the tribunal concluded I did not".

The US-based Russian failed a drugs test on January 26 and was charged with an anti-doping violation on March 2.

Read: Maria Sharapova fails drug test, faces suspension as sponsors sever ties

In a packed press conference in Los Angeles a few days later, she admitted to taking meldonium but said she hadn't realised it was on the banned substance list.

Meldonium was added to the world anti-doping WADA list on January 1. Sharapova said she'd been taking it for 10 years to help treat illnesses, a heart issue and a magnesium deficiency.

Her ban is backdated to January 26 and due to end on January 25, 2018.

The tribunal said in its 33-page summary that "performance enhancement" was the only conclusion it could reach.

"It may be that she genuinely believed that mildronate (another name for meldonium) had some general beneficial effect on her health but the manner in which the medication was taken, its concealment from the anti-doping authorities, her failure to disclose it even to her own team, and the lack of any medical justification must inevitably lead to the conclusion that she took mildronate for the purpose of enhancing her performance," it wrote.

'Author of own misfortune':

In conclusion, the tribunal said that Sharapova "does bear sole responsibility for the contravention".

"She is the sole author of her own misfortune."

WTA chief executive Steve Simon said the organisation hoped the controversy will be quickly resolved.

"It is important at all times for players to be aware of the rules and to follow them. In this case, Maria has taken responsibility for her mistake from the outset," said Simon in a statement.

"The WTA supports the process that the ITF and Maria have followed. The ITF has made its ruling and, under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, the decision may be appealed to the Court Arbitration for Sport.

"The WTA will continue to follow this closely and we hope it will be resolved as soon as possible."

Sharapova, a former world number one whose ranking has slumped to 26, has won 35 career titles including five Grand Slams -- the Australian Open (2008), French Open (2012, 2014), Wimbledon (2004) and US Open (2006).

Her win at Wimbledon in 2004 when she was just 17 launched her into the world of mega-million dollar deals and A-list celebrity.

Her rags-to-riches story captured the imagination of the public who lapped up the tale of her leaving the Soviet Union as a child with her penniless father to live and train in Florida.

She had been the world's highest earning sportswoman for 11 years until this week when, according to Forbes Magazine, she was overtaken by bitter rival Serena Williams who earned $28.9 million over the past 12 months.

Sharapova had dominated in endorsement profits before companies including Nike, American Express, Porsche and TAG Heuer distanced themselves after she tested positive for meldonium earlier this year.

Read: Things to know about Meldonium after Maria Sharapova fails test

Sharapova earned $21.9 million over the past 12 months, down almost $8 million from the previous year, Forbes said.

Despite the two-year suspension, Sharapova vowed to keep fighting.

"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," she said.

WADA said it will review the decision before deciding on its next move.

"As with all decisions made by anti-doping organisations, WADA will review the decision, including its reasoning, and will subsequently decide whether or not to use its independent right of appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)," said a statement.