Maria Sharapova handed two-year ban for failed drugs test

Maria Sharapova has been handed a two-year suspension after testing positive for meldonium earlier in 2016.

In March, Sharapova announced that she had failed a drugs test at the Australian Open for the substance which was added to WADA’s banned list at the start of the year.

Sharapova’s ban is backdated to January 26, 2016, but it has also been revealed that the five-time major champion failed an out-of-competition test at the start of February for the same substance.

As a result of the verdict, Sharapova must forfeit all $281,663 and 430 WTA ranking points that she earned for her last-eight appearance in Melbourne.

The Russian has already announced that she will appeal what she considers to be an “unfairly harsh” suspension.