Sharapova all set to appeal Oct verdict

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said it would deliver an appeal verdict on the two-year doping ban for Maria Sharapova in early October. The 29-year-old Russian tested positive for the banned medication meldonium during January's Australian Open. "The CAS will issue its decision in the arbitration procedure between Maria Sharapova and the International Tennis Federation (ITF) during the first week of October 2016," CAS said in a statement. The original ruling had been expected by July 18, with Sharapova hoping a successful appeal would allow her to spearhead the Russian tennis team in Rio. The two-year ban on the five time grand slam winner who has spent most of her life in the United States was backdated to January 26 this year, when she tested positive for meldonium.