Wozniacki says Sharapova ban a 'sad situation' for tennis

London, June 9 (IANS) Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki said on Thursday that the two-year ban of Maria Sharapova due to doping offence is a "sad situation" for the sport.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced on Wednesday the sanction against the Russian tennis player after she tested positive for Meldonium on January 26.

The ITF confirmed that the two-year ban is backdated to that day and ends on January 26, 2018, in accordance with Article 8.1 of the anti-doping programme.

"It's always a sad situation when someone is getting banned or you have heard they have failed a drug test, not only for Maria but for tennis in general," Wozniacki told the BBC.

"Tennis has a really strong anti-drug policy in place and it helps the sport really keep clean," she added.

--IANS

pur/vt