Maria Sharapova has announced she failed a drug test at the Australian Open, saying a change in the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) banned list led to the violation.

Key points: Maria Sharapova had been taking Mildronate for 10 years before it was recently added to WADA's banned list

Maria Sharapova had been taking Mildronate for 10 years before it was recently added to WADA's banned list Former world number one takes 'full responsibility', says she made a huge mistake

Former world number one takes 'full responsibility', says she made a huge mistake Says she does not know what consequences will be, is working with the ITF

Sharapova said she took anti-ischemic drug Mildronate, also known as meldonium, a banned substance.

She had been taking Mildronate since 2006, but it was added to WADA's banned list this year. She said she did not look at the updated ban list before taking the drug.

In a statement, the ITF said Sharapova would be provisionally suspended with effect from March 12.

Sharapova said she was first given the substance in 2006 due to several health issues, adding she was getting sick very often, had a deficiency in magnesium and a family history of diabetes.

"I have been very open and honest about many things, I take great responsibility in my job ... I made a huge mistake," she told a media gathering in Los Angeles.

"I let my fans down, I let the sport down that I've been playing since the age of four, that I have loved so deeply.

"I know with this I face consequences and I don't want to end my career this way, and I really hope I get another chance to play this game.

Sorry, this video has expired Maria Sharapova fails drugs test

"I was getting sick very often and I had a deficiency in magnesium and a family history of diabetes, and there were signs of diabetes. That is one of the medications, along with others, that I received."

Sharapova said she did not know what the consequences for her career would be.

"I do not [know], this is very new to me, I just received the letter a few days ago, and I will be working with the [International Tennis Federation]."

Sharapova stuns press who expected retirement announcement

Saying she took "full responsibility" for her oversight, Sharapova was at pains to state meldonium was not on WADA's banned list until very recently.

"I received a letter from the ITF that I failed a drugs test at the Australian Open. I take full responsibility for it," she said.

What is meldonium? Also known as Mildronate, it is used to treat angina and myocardial infarction

Also known as Mildronate, it is used to treat angina and myocardial infarction Manufactured and marketed by Latvian company Grindeks

Manufactured and marketed by Latvian company Grindeks Used in Russia and Lithuania, but not approved by USA's Food and Drug Administration Leading sports doctor Dr Peter Brukner gives the rundown on meldonium and what it does to your body.

"It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had legally been taking the medicine for the past 10 years," she said.

"But on January 1 the rules had changed and meldonium became a prohibited substance which I had not known."

Speculation had been rife before the press conference that Sharapova was about to announce her retirement, having suffered a litany of injuries throughout a decorated career.

"I know many of you thought I'd be announcing my retirement. If I was ever going to announce my retirement, it would not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with a fairly ugly carpet," she said.

The WTA's new chief executive, Steve Simon, said he was "saddened" by Sharapova's announcement.

"Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity," he said.

Sharapova's major titles 2004 Wimbledon: bt Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4

bt Serena Williams 6-1, 6-4 2006 US: bt Justin Henin 6-4, 6-4

bt Justin Henin 6-4, 6-4 2008 Australian: bt Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3

bt Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3 2012 French: bt Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2

bt Sara Errani 6-3, 6-2 2014 French: bt Simona Halep 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-4 Other: Spent 21 weeks as world number one between '05 and '12. Won career Grand Slam. Won silver medal at '12 Olympics. Won 2004 WTA Tour Championships.

"Nevertheless, it is every player's responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.

"The matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached throughout this process."

Sharapova has been blighted by injury for much of the past eight months, having played just three WTA tour events in that time, and has been off the court since a loss in the Australian Open quarter-finals against Serena Williams in January.

She also missed the entirety of the 2015 US Open due to a leg injury which effectively ended her season.

A winner of 35 WTA titles, Sharapova has swept all majors in a career Grand Slam — one of only 10 women to do so.

She triumphed as a 17-year-old at Wimbledon in 2004, clinched the US Open in 2006, won the 2008 Australian Open and has two French Open titles (2012 and 2014) to her name.

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