At the time of the failed test, Nike said it was putting its eight-year, $70m deal on hold. Related: What is meldonium and why did Maria Sharapova take it? It said: “The ITF Tribunal has found that Maria did not intentionally break its rules. While admitting she had failed the test, Sharapova has maintained since that she took the drug before it was banned and for health reasons only, on the advice of her doctor over a 10-year period. Maria Sharapova, the richest athlete in the history of women’s sport, has been banned for two years for failing a drugs test during the Australian Open in January, leaving her illustrious tennis career hanging in the balance.

Source: The Guardian June 08, 2016 15:05 UTC