Sideshow Bob
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General tennis thread for 2016. New threads can be created for big events, eg Australian Open.
Former world number one Maria Sharapova has revealed she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open.
The Russian, 28, tested positive for meldonium, a substance she has been taking since 2006 for health issues.
Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, said she was not yet aware of the sanctions she will face.
"I failed the test and take full responsibility for that," said Sharapova, who won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004.
"I had been taking this medicine for the past 10 years, but on 1 January this became a prohibited substance which I did not know."
Sharapova is currently ranked seventh in the world but has played just four tournaments since Wimbledon last July, and only the Australian Open in 2016, as she has struggled with an arm injury.
Her most recent match was a defeat by Serena Williams at the Australian Open in January, but Sharapova, who turns 29 in April, hopes to be able to return to tennis in the future.
"I made a huge mistake," she said.
"I know I face consequences and I didn't want to end my career this way. I hope I will be given the chance to play this game again."
There had been speculation Sharapova was going to announce her retirement and a large media contingent gathered for the Los Angeles news conference, which was streamed live online.
"I know many of you thought that I would be retiring today but if I was ever going to announce my retirement it would not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with this fairly ugly carpet," she said.
Wow. I did not expect that. I didn't realise it had been announced.Sharapova has been banned for two years.
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