Tennis superstar Maria Sharapova has tested positive for drug use.
Sharapova held a press conference prior to the Australian Open to announce that she had tested positive for a meldonium.
#BREAKING Maria Sharapova announces failed drug test at Australian Open
— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 7, 2016
“For the past 10 years I have been taking a medicine called mildronate by my doctor, my family doctor, and a few days ago after I received the letter from the ITF [International Tennis Federation] I found out it also has another name of meldonium, which I did not know,” the five-time Grand Slam champion told the media on Monday.
Sharapova claims that meldonium was legal for many years but became a prohibited substance in 2016.
The Russian-born star also added, “I have let my fans down, and let the sport down that I have been playing since the age of four that I love so deeply.”