A decision in Maria Sharapova's appeal of her two-year drug suspension will be issued tomorrow, the BBC reports.
The five-time Grand Slam champion tested positive for the banned substance meldonium following her Australian Open quarterfinal loss to Serena Williams in January.
Sharapova appealed the suspension she called "unfairly harsh."
“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” wrote Sharapova in a statement. “I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”
Russian Tennis Federation Chief Shamil Tarpischev has said he believes the Court of Arbitration for Sport will rule in Sharapova's favor and that she could return to action in January.
In its ruling the ITF stated:
“The contravention of the anti-doping rules was not intentional as Ms Sharapova did not appreciate that Mildronate contained a substance prohibited from 1 January 2016. However she does bear sole responsibility for the contravention, and very significant fault, in failing to take any steps to check whether the continued use of this medicine was permissible. If she had not concealed her use of Mildronate from the anti-doping authorities, members of her own support team and the doctors whom she consulted, but had sought advice, then the contravention would have been avoided. She is the sole author of her own misfortune.”
If 29-year-old Sharapova’s appeal is unsuccessful, the earliest she can return is January 26, 2018.
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