Maria Sharapova Has Tennis Suspension Reduced to 15 Months

Tennis star Maria Sharapova's two-year suspension from the sport has been reduced to 15 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which said that Sharapova's case was only about her failure to make sure a substance contained in a product she was taking remained in compliance with anti-doping rules.

Sharapova, 29, was suspended from the sport in June after she failed a drug test at the 2016 Australian Open. She made public that she failed the test at a press conference in March, saying she had tested positive for Meldonium.

"I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it," she said at the time.

In explaining the positive result, Sharapova said she had been given a drug called Mildronate by her family doctor for the past 10 years. When she received a letter from the International Tennis Federation, Sharapova said she found out the drug had another name, Meldonium. The substance was classified by the World Anti-Doping Agency as a prohibited substance on Jan. 1.

WADA announced in September 2015 that Meldonium was being added to its list of prohibited substances because of "evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance." Meldonium is used in Latvia and other eastern European countries to treat serious heart problems and aid the circulation of oxygen, the BBC reported. Sharapova said she did receive the updated list of prohibited substances from WADA on Dec. 22 but did not look at the list.

In a statement, the Court of Arbitration said that Sharapova committed an anti-doping rule violation and that while it was with "no significant fault," she still bore some degree of fault.

"The Panel wishes to point out that the case it heard, and the award it has rendered, was only about the degree of fault that can be imputed to the player for her failure to make sure that the substance contained in a product that she had been taking over a long period remained in compliance with the anti-doping rules," the statement from the court said.

In a lengthy decision issued by the court, it noted that the case it heard "was not about an athlete who cheated." The court said Sharapova, under no circumstances, can be considered an "intentional doper."

Sharapova released a statement after the decision by the court, saying she had gone from one of the toughest days of her career in March to one of the happiest days after learning she can return to the sport in April.

"In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back. Tennis is my passion and I have missed it," she said in the statement. "I am counting the days until I can return to the court."

Sharapova will return to tennis in April 2017, just in time for the French Open. Having no ranking, she will need a wild card entry to play in the event. Women's Tennis Association CEO told The Associated Press Sharapova is entitled to "unlimited" wild cards based on her record.

When the athlete was suspended in June, the International Tennis Federation tribunal indicated in a report that Sharapova did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, which would have resulted in a four-year suspension. But the tribunal said Sharapova failed to prove "that she bears no significant fault or negligence."

The ITF contested a claim from Sharapova's team that the ITF should have known about her regular use of Meldonium and adequately alerted her of its addition to the list of banned substances. The tribunal report also cited a Dr. Rabin as saying that the drug acts as a metabolic modulator. In other words, it allows an increased production of energy using less oxygen.

Sharapova turned pro in 2001 and is a five-time grand slam winner. She made her mark in women's tennis at the 2004 Wimbledon, beating Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 to win her first grand slam title. She was 17 at the time.

Sharapova moved from Russia to Bradenton, Florida, for tennis training as a child. She now lives in Longboat Key, Florida, near Bradenton.

This report will be updated.

With additional reporting by Brendan Krisel.

Image: Maria Sharapova at the 2009 Wimbledon. Image Credit: Justin Smith via Flickr Creative Commons