End of career: Maria Sharapova found doping

Russian Maria Sharapova today announced at a special press conference that a doping test taken from her during the Australian Open was positive. The drug meldonium was found in the athlete's body.

“I know that such a result entails certain consequences. I don't want to end my sports career like this. I hope that I will still have a chance to play,” Maria told reporters from Los Angeles.

According to the athlete, she has been taking a medical preparation containing meldonium for the past 10 years by prescription. Since January 1, 2016, the substance has been included in the list of prohibited drugs. On December 22, Maria received a notification from WADA with an amended list of drugs. According to Sharapova, she did not look through the list.

Photos: Andrey Golovanov, Sergey Kivrin and Paul Zimmer / caviarpress

First victory at the Grand Slam tournament, 2004. Photo with his father Yuri.

Maria Sharapova, 2004.

Tournament in Dubai, 2005.

Sharapova at the US Open, 2005.

In Miami, 2006.

US Open Cup photoshoot, 2006.

Federation Cup, Russia - Italy. Nadezhda Petrova, Elena Vesnina and Maria Sharapova are sick on the bench, 2007.

Federation Cup. Festive banquet on the occasion of the victory of Russia. Anna Chakvetadze, Maria Sharapova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, 2007.

Australian Open, 2008.

Sharapova during training at Wimbledon, 2009.

Signing tennis balls for fans at the Fed Cup, 2011.

Federation Cup, 2011.

Tournament in Miami, 2011.

Australian Open: Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova, 2012.

Elena Vesnina, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Nadezhda Petrova, Ekaterina Makarova, 2012.

Federation Cup, 2012.

Photo session of the ITF before the Olympics in London, 2012.

Sharapova in Stuttgart, 2012.

At the London Olympics 2012.

Sharapova with a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

At the final WTA tournament in Istanbul, 2012.

Fans with a poster at the final WTA tournament in Istanbul, 2012.

Australian Open, 2013.

Sharapova in Miami, 2013

Wimbledon, 2013.

Australian Open, 2014.

In the locker room with the Roland Garros Cup, 2014.

Australian Open, 2015.

On March 7, 2016, Maria Sharapova announced at a special press conference that she had passed a positive doping test. According to her, meldonium was found in the body. It is part of the drug mildronate, which has been banned for use since January 1 this year.