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Maria Sharapova’s legal team is confident that the two-year ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation for taking the banned drug meldonium will be reduced on appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), The Guardian reports https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jun/08/maria-sharapova-lawyers-confident-suspension-reduced-cas referring to the lawyers’ statement.

John J Haggerty, who is in charge of Sharapova’s case, claimed the Sharapova had been unfairly treated in part because of her fame and that he expected the ban to be reduced at Cas. He expects an appeal would be heard within the next month and a half.

“We always viewed this as a two-step process – ITF first then Cas for a final decision,” Haggerty said, as quoted by the source. “So while I am pleased with the ITF’s unanimous ruling about Maria’s lack of intent to violate the rules, I am disappointed that the ITF tribunal gave Maria an unfairly harsh suspension because she is such a famous athlete and they wanted to make an example out of her.

To remind earlier the tribunal confirmed Sharapova had taken the drug to enhance her performance but was satisfied she had not intended to cheat. According to the tribunal ruling, Sharapova is banned until January 26 2018,