By Chris Oddo | Wednesday June 8, 2016

Maria Sharapova has been suspended for two years by the ITF, with her suspension back-dated to January 26, 2016. The Russian plans to appeal the ruling immediately.

See the ITF's Statement on the Sharapova Case Here

“While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension,” wrote Sharapova in a statement. “I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

In its ruling the ITF stated:

“The contravention of the anti-doping rules was not intentional as Ms Sharapova did not appreciate that Mildronate contained a substance prohibited from 1 January 2016. However she does bear sole responsibility for the contravention, and very significant fault, in failing to take any steps to check whether the continued use of this medicine was permissible. If she had not concealed her use of Mildronate from the anti-doping authorities, members of her own support team and the doctors whom she consulted, but had sought advice, then the contravention would have been avoided. She is the sole author of her own misfortune.”

If 29-year-old Sharapova’s appeal is not successful, the earliest she can return is January 26, 2018.

More to follow…