Maria Sharapova Admits Failing Drugs Test, ITF Suspends Her Provisionally

Five time Australian open champion, Maria Sharapova has admitted that she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open earlier this year.

Sharapova called an unscheduled press conference for Monday to make a “major announcement”.

The 28 year old said a substance she has been taking throughout her career only appeared on World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list this year.

“I was first given the substance back in 2006. I had several health issues going on at the time,” Sharapova told a news conference in Los Angeles.

“I was getting sick very often and I had a deficiency in magnesium and a family history of diabetes, and there were signs of diabetes. That is one of the medications, along with others, that I received,”

‘I don’t want to end my career this way and I really hope I will be given another chance to play this game,’ Sharapova said.

The former Wimbledon champion, has been troubled by a number of injuries in recent years, leading to speculation that she was set to retire from the sport.