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		</div><p>Maria Sharapova has been banned for two years after failing a drugs test at the Australian Open, the International Tennis Federation has announced.</p>
<p>Sharapova&#8217;s suspension is backdated to January 26 this year, when she tested positive for prohibited substance meldonium.</p>
<p>The five-time grand slam champion will miss the Olympic Games in Rio this summer while the earliest grand slam she could next compete in will be the French Open in 2018.</p>
<p>In a statement issued on her Facebook page, Sharapova has said she will &#8220;immediately appeal the suspension portion&#8221; to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.</p>
<p>She wrote: &#8220;Today with their decision of a two year suspension, the ITF tribunal unanimously concluded that what I did was not intentional. The tribunal found that I did not seek treatment from my doctor for the purpose of obtaining a performance enhancing substance. The ITF spent tremendous amounts of time and resources trying to prove I intentionally violated the anti-doping rules and the tribunal concluded I did not. You need to know that the ITF asked the tribunal to suspend me for four years &#8211; the required suspension for an intentional violation &#8212; and the tribunal rejected the ITF&#8217;s position.</p>
<p>&#8220;While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension. The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years. I will immediately appeal the suspension portion of this ruling to CAS, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.</p>
<p>&#8220;I have missed playing tennis and I have missed my amazing fans, who are the best and most loyal fans in the world. I have read your letters. I have read your social media posts and your love and support has gotten me through these tough days. I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that&#8217;s why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible.&#8221;</p>
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