Maria Sharapova to face anti-doping panel in London

Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova is to face an anti-doping panel on Wednesday after testing positive for a banned drug in January.

The five-times grand slam champion announced in March that she had failed a test for meldonium at the Australian Open.

Meldonium - Latvian-made heart medication - was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list on 1 January.

Sharapova said she had been taking meldonium on her doctor's orders for ten years and that she was not aware that the medication had been banned.

The 29-year-old was provisionally suspended on March 12 pending the hearing.

The maximum punishment available is four years, but most anti-doping experts think a ban of six to 12 months is more likely.

The tennis player admitted she failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. Credit: Reuters

Hundreds of athletes have tested positive for meldonium this year and there has been much debate surrounding the drug

WADA admitted last month that their bans might be overturned due to a lack of clear scientific information on how long the drug stays in the body.

  • What is meldonimum?

Meldonium is said to improve stamina and endurance. Credit: Wikmedia Commons

Meldonium is used medically to treat heart problems like angina and myocardial infarction. It is also an effective treatment for ischemia - or lack of blood flow.

In sport, it is said to benefit athletes by increasing their stamina and endurance.

It is manufactured in Latvia and most commonly used in Russia and it is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the US.