(March 7, 2016) Maria Sharapova held a news conference on Monday in Los Angeles to announce that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open. Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a drug she says she’s been using for 10 years for different health issues. Meldonium became a banned substance in January under the WADA code. She said that she did not notice that the drug was on the banned list.

The 28-year-old former No. 1 could face a ban from the International Tennis Federation.

“I know that with this, I face consequences,” Sharapova said in her news conference. “I don’t want to end my career this way, and I really hope I will be given another chance to play this game.”

“I take great responsibility and professionalism in my job, and I made a huge mistake,” Sharapova said. “I let my fans down. I let the sport down that I’ve been playing since the age of 4, that I love so deeply.”

Maria Sharapova’s news conference:

TENNIS ANTI-DOPING PROGRAMME STATEMENT REGARDING MARIA SHARAPOVA

7 March 2016

Following the statement made by Maria Sharapova in a press conference today, the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP) can confirm the following:

• On 26 January 2016, Ms Sharapova provided an anti-doping sample to the TADP in association with her participation in the 2016 Australian Open.

• That sample was analysed by a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accredited laboratory, which returned a positive for meldonium, which is a prohibited substance under the WADA Code and, therefore also the TADP.

• In accordance with Article 8.1.1 of the TADP, Ms Sharapova was charged on 2 March with an Anti-Doping Rule Violation.

• Ms Sharapova has accepted the finding of meldonium in her sample collected on 26 January.

• As meldonium is a non-specified substance under the WADA (and, therefore, TADP) list of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, Ms Sharapova will be provisionally suspended with effect from 12 March, pending determination of the case.

The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme is a comprehensive and internationally recognised drug-testing programme that applies to all players competing at Grand Slam tournaments and events sanctioned by the ITF, ATP, and WTA. Players are tested for substances prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and, upon a finding that an Anti-Doping Rule Violation has been committed, sanctions are imposed in accordance with the requirements of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme and World Anti-Doping Code. More background information on the Programme, sanctions, tennis statistics and related information can be found at www.itftennis.com/antidoping.

Steve Simon, WTA CEO in response to Maria Sharapova’s announcement:

St Petersburg, Florida, USA – “I am very saddened to hear this news about Maria.  Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity.  Nevertheless, as Maria acknowledged, it is every player’s responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.  This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures.  The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process.”