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Sharapova banned for 2 years as Russia hit by new doping scandal

Russia's Maria Sharapova has been banned for two years after failing a drugs test at January's Australia Open in 2013. Her suspension by the International Tennis Federation comes as Moscow's Sports minister Vitaly Mutko faces new allegations of state-controlled doping by German public broadcaster ARD.

Maria Sharapova of Russia speaks during a news conference at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia on January 1, 2013.
Maria Sharapova of Russia speaks during a news conference at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia on January 1, 2013. REUTERS/Daniel Munoz/File Photo
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Maria Sharapova remains defiant, and insists she will appeal the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) decision.

"I intend to stand for what I believe is right and that's why I will fight to be back on the tennis court as soon as possible."

The ITF suspended the disgraced Russian star on Wednesday after a three-month investigation revealed she had tested positive for meldonium.

The performance-enhancing drug was banned on January 1 2016.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said in April that athletes who tested positive before March 1 could avoid bans, provided they had stopped taking it before January 1.

But Sharapova admitted in March that she had been taking the drug for ten years for health reasons, forcing her to be provisionally suspended.

That suspension is now more permanent with ITF's decision.

It comes as Russia's doping woes increase.

German public broadcaster ARD says it has proof that the country's Sports minister Vitaly Mutko was directly involved in state-controlled doping.

Moscow has dismissed the allegations as "unfounded."

"We will treat this like absolute slander," Kremlin spokesman Dimitry Peskov told reporters, hours before ARD was set to broadcast its explosive documentary.

Several Russian athletes could end up missing the upcoming Rio Olympics because there are question marks hanging over their heads.

Pre-empting the fallout, sports ministry announced earlier this week that Russia will introduce compulsory anti-doping classes in school to "reform social attitudes" about performance-enhancing drugs.

But scepticism remains. German broadcaster ARD reiterated on Wednesday that Moscow hasn't stopped its state-sponsored sports doping despite an international ban against its track and field athletes.

The International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) is to meet on June 17 to decide whether to reinstate Russia.

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