Maria Sharapova to learn outcome of appeal against two-year ban next month

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed that the decision regarding Maria Sharapova's appeal against a two-year ban will be announced in the first week of October.

The five-time Grand Slam champion lodged an appeal in June, just days after the International Tennis Federation imposed a lengthy ban.

The Russian sportswoman announced in March that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open in January.

Sharapova tested positive for meldonium - a drug that she claimed was used for health reasons - after failing to spot that it had been added to the World Anti-Doping Agency's list of banned substances on January 1, 2016.

With regards to the tennis star's appeal, CAS released a statement, which read: "In her appeal to the CAS, Ms Sharapova seeks a reduction of the tribunal's decision to sanction her with a two-year period of ineligibility further to an anti-doping rule violation.

"The final award will be published on the CAS website together with a media release."

Sharapova's last official match was her quarter-final defeat to Serena Williams at the Australian Open in January.