Tennis player Maria Sharapova admitted on Monday that she tested positive at the Australian Open for a recently banned drug that she has been taking for health reasons.

The drug is called meldonium, and Sharapova said she had been using it under the name of mildronate. She claimed that she did not know about the different name and that it is included in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s banned list.

“I had legally been taking this for ten years,” said Sharapova admitting that she had received a notification from the International Tennis Federation on December 22 that this drug was being outlawed.

She also said that she did not follow an information link that was provided.

“I take responsibility for my professionalism in my job and I made a big mistake. I know there will be consequences and I don’t want to end my career this way. I really hope I will be given another chance to play tennis again. I can’t blame anyone but myself. I have let my fans down,” she said.

The ITF claims that the tennis player, who faces a ban from the sport, had been informed of the positive test on 2 March and she will be provisionally suspended from 12 March.

Moreover, one of Sharapova’s biggest sponsors, Nike, announced it had suspended its cooperation with her. “We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova,” a Nike statement said.