Maria Sharapova has been given a two-year ban from tennis after failing a drugs test at the Australian Open in January, but sponsors Nike and Head will continue to support the Russian and have confirmed that their lucrative contracts with the five-time Grand Slam winner will not be terminated.

Sharapova has confirmed her intention to fight the two-year ban by taking the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport [Cas] after the International Tennis Federation [ITF] announced her suspension on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old held a press conference in March to reveal that she had failed the drugs test during the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, and admitted to taking Meldrinate – which contains the banned substance meldonium – for the last 10 years, although it the substance was only banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency [Wada] at the start of this year.

However, despite being ditched immediately by brands such as Porsche and Tag Heuer, both Nike and Head have confirmed that they will continue to work with the Russian tennis player, even though she will not be allowed to play again at a Grand Slam event until the 2018 French Open.

Nike immediately suspended their deal with Sharapova pending the outcome of the tribunal, but have since lifted the suspension and claimed in a statement that she “did not intentionally break the rules”.

Maria Sharapova's career defining moments Show all 25 1 /25 Maria Sharapova's career defining moments Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 19 April 2001 Makes professional debut at the age of 14 2001 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 14 January 2003 Makes Grand Slam debut at Australian Open 2003 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 3 July 2004 Wins first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon at age of 17 2004 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 22 August 2005 Ranked world No 1 for the first time 2005 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments March 2006 Forbes names Sharapova the highest-paid female athlete in the world 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 10 September 2006 Wins the US Open by beating Justine Henin 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 27 January 2008 Wins the Australian Open without dropping a set 2008 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments August 2008 Long-standing shoulder injury requires surgery, forcing Sharapova to miss the 2008 Olympics 2010 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 14 January 2010 Launches the Nike Maria Sharapova Collection after the success of the 'Little Black Dress' from the 2006 US Open. 2006 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments January 2011 Splits with coach Michael Joyce, appoints Thomas Hogstedt 2009 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments January 2012 Ends engagement to Slovenian professional basketball player Sasha Vujacic after three-year relationship BURAK KARA Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 10 June 2012 Completes career Grand Slam after winning the French Open 2012 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments June 2012 Named the 15th highest-paid athlete in the world by Forbes 2012 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 5 August 2012 Wins Olympic silver medal at London 2012 after losing to Serena Williams in final 2012 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 11 January 2013 Global launch of Sugarpova sweets line alongside Jeff Rubin 2013 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments September 2013 Considers changing her name to Maria Sugarpova for the US Open but decides against it 2013 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments September 2013 Third shoulder injury ends her season prematurely 2013 AFP Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 7 June 2014 Wins second French Open title by defeating Simona Halep 2014 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments July 2015 Splits up with boyfriend and fellow tennis professional Grigor Dimitrov 2014 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 26 January 2016 Knocked out in Australian Open quarter-finals by Serena Williams and doesn’t play again due to injury 2016 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments February 2016 Announces deal to make Sugarpova Premium Chocolates with Polish company Baron Chocolatier to be released in May this year Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 7 February 2016 Sharapova reveals she has failed a drug test after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium, with the ITF provisionally suspending her from 12 March. 2016 Getty Images Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 8 June 2016 Sharapova is given a two-year ban by the ITF for her positive drugs test. AFP/Getty Maria Sharapova's career defining moments October 2016 Sharapova's ban is reduced from two years to 15 months on appeal. Getty Maria Sharapova's career defining moments 26 April 2017 After serving her ban, Sharapova made her return to professional tennis at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, defeating Roberta Vinci. Getty

"The ITF Tribunal has found that Maria did not intentionally break its rules. Maria has always made her position clear, has apologised for her mistake and is now appealing the length of the ban. Based on the decision of the ITF and their factual findings, we hope to see Maria back on court and will continue to partner with her," read the statement.

Head meanwhile came in for criticism back in March when it announced that it would stick with Sharapova despite the investigation into her positive drugs test, and the racket manufacturers have accused Wada of breaking its own rules in order to outlaw meldonium and labelled the process of banning Sharapova “flawed”.

Nike will continue to sell their Maria Sharapova brand (Getty)

"Based upon the evidence provided by Miss Sharapova, Wada and by Dr Don Catlin, the Chief Science Officer of the Banned Substances Control Group, it appears that the ITF have made their decision based upon a flawed process undertaken by Wada that clearly highlights how Wada have broken their own rules in determining whether or not meldonium should be banned,” Head chairman Johan Eliasch said in a statement.

"We believe, based on the facts and circumstances provided to us, that it is a flawed decision. Head will continue to support Miss Sharapova."

Head have labelled Sharapova's ban "flawed" after she was suspended for two years (Getty)

A statement from Sharapova issued on her Facebook page soon after the tribunal’s decision was announced confirmed the former Wimbledon champion refuses to accept the length of her ban and will seek a reduction by taking the case to the Cas.

"While the tribunal concluded correctly that I did not intentionally violate the anti-doping rules, I cannot accept an unfairly harsh two-year suspension," Sharapova posted on Facebook.

"The tribunal, whose members were selected by the ITF, agreed that I did not do anything intentionally wrong, yet they seek to keep me from playing tennis for two years.