Sharapova set for drug ban hearing

Maria Sharapova was dropped by her sponsor Nike following her positive drug testMaria Sharapova, the five-time tennis Grand Slam winner, will face an anti-doping panel in London on Wednesday after taking the banned drug meldonium.

The 29-year-old Russian failed a doping test at the Australian Open in January.

Meldonium, a heart disease drug, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list on 1 January.

The International Tennis Federation panel could issue a four-year-ban - but experts say a six to 12 month punishment is more likely.

That is because Wada admitted in April that there was a lack of scientific evidence about how long meldonium stayed in the system and it suggested athletes…