Maria Sharapova, the former world number one scheduled a press conference for Monday, and many were speculating that the Russian was about to announce her retirement from the sport -- but she will not be hanging up her tennis shoes, but could be facing a lengthy ban from the sport. The five-time major winner revealed that she tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open in January. The Russian lost in the quarter-finals in Melbourne to Serena Williams and failed a drug test following the match -- as she was found to have Meldonium in her system.
"Hello everyone. Thank you for being here on such short notice. I wanted to let you know that a few days ago I received a letter from the ITF that I had failed a drug test at the Australian Open. I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it. I made a huge mistake and I have let my fans down. I have let the sport down that I have been playing since the age of four that I've loved so deeply. I know that with this I face consequences. I don't want to end my career this way. And I really hope that I will be given another chance to play this game. I know many of you though that I would be retiring today and announcing my retirement but if I was ever going to announce my retirement - it would probably not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with this fairly ugly carpet. I will be taking a few questions," Sharapova said.
The Russian has been taking the drug for 10 years without a problem, but this year it was added to the World-Anti Doping list for banned substances. Researchers say taking it could improve athletic and endurance ability.
Sharapova is currently sidelined with a forearm injury, but hasn't competed since that loss to Serena Williams in January.
The former world No.1 is provisionally banned from tennis -- as the International Tennis Federation reviews her case. This could possible end her season, preventing her from competing for Russia at the Rio Olympics. And her future also remains in doubt depening on the outcome of her punishment.