Maria Sharapova was suspended for two years by the International Tennis Federation on Wednesday for testing positive for a banned substance.
The Russian tennis sensation plans to appeal after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. Sharapova immediately released a statement revealing her plans to appeal the ruling.
"The ITF tribunal unanimously concluded that what I did was not intentional," Sharapova said via ESPN. "The tribunal found that I did not seek treatment from my doctor for the purpose of obtaining a performance enhancing substance. The ITF spent tremendous amount of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules and the tribunal concluded I did not. You need to know that the ITF asked the tribunal to suspend me for four years -- the required suspension for an intentional violation -- and the tribunal rejected the ITF's position."
The decision was agreed upon by a three-person panel and the ITF admitted Sharapova didn't take the substance to cheat. Still, the committee ruled Sharapova takes "sole responsibility'' and "very significant fault'' for the failed test.
Sharapova, who was hoping to represent Russia at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in August, deemed the penalty too steep to accept.
"I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension," she said. "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."
Sharapova originally revealed in March that she tested positive for the banned substance in January during the Australian Open.
She stated that she didn't know the drug mildronate, which she has been taking since 2006, was also known as meldonium. Meldonium was added to the banned substance list this past January.
The WTA also acknowledged that Sharapova didn't take the drugs to enhance her performance, but stood by the decision.
"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. The WTA supports the process that the ITF and Maria have followed."
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