Maria Sharapova banned for TWO YEARS as damning report concludes she took drug 'for the purpose of enhancing her performance'

*.Maria Sharapova failed a drugs test at the Australian Open in January*.The 29-year-old former world No 1 tested positive for banned meldonium

*.The ITF announced two-year backdated ban on Wednesday afternoon*.The drug meldonium was added to WADA banned list on January 1, 2016

*.Sharapova says she will appeal the ban, calling it 'unfairly harsh'

*.See more Maria Sharapova news as she's banned from tennis for two years

Maria Sharapova has been handed a two-year ban from tennis after she tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

  The ban has been backdated to January 26 - the day the Russian failed herdrugs testin Melbourne - meaning it will end on January 25, 2018. The ban was at the heavier end of expectations and it means she cannot play a Grand Slam until the French Openin 2018.

Maria Sharapova, pictured playing tennis on the beach in LA on Tuesday, has been banned for two years.

  Sharapova took to the beach with friends just one day before hearing she had been slapped with two-year ban.

  The Russian former world No 1 was provisionally banned in March while an independent panel reviewed case.

  Sharapova will be able to return to tennis in January 2018.

One particularly damning section of the ITF's ruling, released on Wednesday afternoon, read: 'In the tribunal's view the answer is clear. Whatever the position may have been in 2006, there was in 2016 no diagnosis and no therapeutic advice supporting the continuing use of Mildronate (Meldonium). 'If she had believed that there was a continuing medical need to use Mildronate then she would have consulted a medical practitioner.

  The manner of its use, on match days and when undertaking intensive training, is only consistent with an intention to boost her energy levels.