Maria Sharapova banned: Jennifer Capriati in verbal attack on disgraced tennis star after failed drug test

Sharapova revealed she failed a drug test after taking meldonium since she was 16

Former tennis player Jennifer Capriati has launched a passionate verbal attack on Maria Sharapova after her failed drug test (Getty Images)

Former tennis player Jennifer Capriati admitted that she was left feeling “extremely angry and disappointed” with Maria Sharapova after she failed a drug test, having tested positive for meldonium.

Sharapova called a press conference on Monday night to reveal the news herself, having been informed by the International Tennis Federation on 2 March that she had tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open in January.

Sharapova admitted to taking meldonium since she was 16 to help with health issues, with the drug only being added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned substance list on 1 January 2016 after “evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance” was discovered.

Sharapova now faces up to a two-year ban, though she is expected to be hit with a suspension of half that duration, but the 28-year-old Russian is already being questioned and criticised by former athletes, including leading names in tennis.

Capriati took to Twitter to vent her frustrations, having claimed that she was forced to end her career earlier than she had hoped because she “didn't have the high priced team of drs (sic) that found a way for me to cheat”.

Capriati’s tweets were part of a mass series of 44 messages that saw the 39-year-old American rage against Sharapova’s use of meldonium as well as the wider usage of banned substances in sport. Capriati called for Sharapova to have all of her titles – including her five Grand Slam victories – stripped because she has taken the drug since she was 16 years old.

Sharapova made it clear that she does not want to end her tennis career with a drug ban and signalled her intention to resume her career following any suspension, should she be allowed to return to competition.