Sharapova, 29, filed earlier on Tuesday an appeal at the CAS against a decision to sanction her with a two-year period of ineligibility issued by the Tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on 6 June 6, 2016.
Advertisement
The Russian tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January, taking it before each match at that tournament even though the substance was banned at the start of 2016.
A statement from Sharapova’s lawyer said the ITF’s tribunal reflected the player “did not intend to violate the rules”.
A statement from CAS explained the five-time grand slam victor is hoping for the ban to be reduced or eliminated completely. “Ms. Sharapova submits that the period of ineligibility should be eliminated, or in the alternative, reduced”.
It treated both results as a single anti-doping violation, with Sharapova’s ban backdated to 26 January.
CAS further confirmed the parties have not decided whether or not a hearing would be held on appeal.
“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I can not accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension”, Sharapova wrote on Facebook at the time her suspension was imposed. She could have been barred from competing for up to four years.
Sharapova says she has been taking meldonium, a heart disease drug, since 2006 for health issues.
Sharapova said then she was not aware that the World Anti-Doping Agency barred athletes from using meldonium, also known as mildronate, from January 1. Olympics and the next seven grand slam events.
Advertisement
Immediately following the announcement of her ban, Sharapova announced through her Facebook page that she would contest the decision.
