Maria Sharapova: Meldonium hearing will go ahead despite amnesty, says International Tennis Federation

The anti-doping federation's new guidance could potentially have offer Sharapova a lifeline

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at this year's Australian Open (Getty)

Maria Sharapova will still face a hearing after testing positive for meldonium, despite the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (Wada) renewing their stance on the performance-enhancing substance.

The anti-doping federation issued new guidance on Tuesday which said that athletes who had tested positive for the drug before March 1, with less than one microgram found in their system, could be repreived.

Sharapova, a five-time grand slam champion and leading women’s tennis player, tested positive for meldonium during this year’s Australian Open, following its inclusion on Wada’s banned substance list from 1 January.

Wada’s new ruling led to some suggestions that Sharapova could avoid suspension for her positive test. The International Tennis Federation (ITF), however, has now confirmed that their case regarding the 28-year-old Russian’s use of meldonium will proceed.

"In light of the recent notice from Wada regarding the process for dealing with cases involving meldonium, the ITF can confirm that the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme case involving Maria Sharapova will proceed to a hearing in accordance with Wada's recommendations," the ITF said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The ITF does not intend to make any further statement until completion of this process due to the confidentiality of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme."

Sharapova is the most high-profile athlete to test positive for the substance since it was prohibited in January, with a total of 172 athletes testing positive worldwide.