Sharapova Cops Ban That Could End Career

Maria Sharapova could be gone from tennis for two years.

She's been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation for using a prohibited drug.

The Russian was provisionally banned in March after testing positive for meldonium at January's Australian Open.

The heart disease drug, which Sharapova said she's been taking since 2006 for health issues, became a banned substance on 1 January 2016.

Newstalk ZB  tennis expert Matt Brown said the World Anti-doping Agency indicated they'd be happy with a ban of a year or less.

The five-time Grand Slam winner said she will appeal against the ban, which she describes as unfairly harsh.

"While the tribunal correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules I can not accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension. The tribunal agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong," she said in a statement.

Few players are expected to be shedding any tears for Maria Sharapova, as she is not held in particularly high regard by her peers.

Matt Brown said "she's not the most popular person in the dressing room, called a bit of a diva, and certainly a lot of the players she doesn't really associate with off the court." 

The ban is backdated to January 2016 meaning if upheld Sharapova is out of the game until January 2018 when she'll be 30.

Matt Brown said the ban could spell the end of her career.

"She'll be over 30 by the time this ban - if it's not reduced on appeal - comes into play, so we may have seen the end of Maria Sharapova."

Sky's Enda Brady said there are now questions over whether Sharapova can ever make a comeback.

"As it stands if the ban is upheld she will not be going to the Olympics with the Russian team and the next available will be the French Open in 2018."

But a major question mark hangs over the Russian participation in Rio anyway.

The IAAF is due to announce at the end of next week whether Russian can compete in athletics at the Olympics.

Radio Sport