Tennis star Maria Sharapova to be suspended after failing drug test

Maria Sharapova will be provisionally suspended with effect from March 12 after failing a drug test at the Australian Open, the International Tennis Federation has announced.

Sharapova, who took “full responsibility” for the failed test, said she has been taking the drug legally since the age of 16, but did not realise it had subsequently been banned.

“I received a letter from the ITF that I failed a drugs test at the Australian Open,” said Sharapova. “I take full responsibility for it.