Sharapova announces she failed drug test at Australian Open
Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova called a press conference in Los Angeles on Monday to announce that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.
No announcement was made in regards to a potential ban from the sport.
"I made a huge mistake, I let my sport down," Sharapova said. "I hope I will be given another chance to play this game."
Sharapova tested positive for Meldonium, a Latvian-produced anti-ischemic drug that she had taken for 10 years. She claims she didn't know it was put on the banned list as of Jan. 1.
"It made me healthy and that's why I continued to take it," Sharapova said of her use of Meldonium.
The 28-year-old Russian tennis star pulled out of Indian Wells last week, citing a left forearm injury that had been bothering her all season. The same injury sidelined her for the Brisbane International, and a knee injury forced her to miss the US Open.
The world No. 7 has played in just three tournaments since last year's Wimbledon.