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Maria Sharapova appeals two-year ban for doping

Maria Sharapova plays in the Australian Open on Jan. 16.

Maria Sharapova plays in the Australian Open on Jan. 16.

(Mast Irham / EPA)
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Maria Sharapova has filed an appeal to reduce or eliminate her two-year doping ban and has asked an international court to move swiftly, rendering a decision before the upcoming Summer Olympics.

The appeal was announced Tuesday by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which has agreed to an expedited process that will produce a ruling by July 18 at the latest.

Sharapova was sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for meldonium, a heart medication that can also be used to enhance performance. It was only recently added to the list of banned substances.

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The tennis star has hoped to represent Russia at the Games and was expected to fight the ban.

The Russian tennis federation has put her on its tentative list of players slated to compete in Rio de Janeiro.

david.wharton@latimes.com

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