Sharapova provisionally suspended after failing drug test

The International Tennis Federation announced Monday that Maria Sharapova will be provisionally suspended effective March 12 after the Russian tennis player said she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

“I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it,” Maria Sharapova said in a conference in Los Angeles on Monday broadcasted on her website, adding that she received a letter from the International Tennis Federation a few days ago.

After Sharapova's conference, the International Tennis Federation issued a statement saying: “As meldonium is a non-specified substance under the WADA [World Anti-Doping Agency,...] list of Prohibited Substances and Prohibited Methods, Ms Sharapova will be provisionally suspended with effect from 12 March, pending determination of the case.”

Sharapova said that for the past 10 years, she had been given a medicine called mildronate or meldonium by her doctor.

“On Jan. 1st, the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance,” she said.

Sharapova said she had taken the medicine because of a magnesium deficiency. She also said that her family had a history of diabetes.

Sharapova is ranked 7th by the Women's Tennis Association (WTA).

Born in 1987, Sharapova has been the world's highest-paid female athlete for the last 11 years, according to Forbes.

On Jan. 25, Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals. She has won all four Grand Slam tournaments: Wimbledon (2004), US Open (2006), Australian Open (2008) and French Open (2012, 2014).