Nike suspends Maria Sharapova's deal after admitting failing a drug test

The sports giant is reportedly suspending its major endorsement deal with Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova after she admitted to failing a drug test at this year's Australian Open (You can read the story here). Sharapova, who has long been the world's highest-paid female athlete, said Monday she'd been taking the drug meldonium since 2006 and didn't realize it was declared a banned substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency at the start of 2016.
"We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova," Nike said in a statement. "We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues."
The International Tennis Federation said it is provisionally banning the five-time grand slam winner "pending determination of the case." The usual penalty for first-time offenders is a two-year ban.
Meldonium is designed to improve the flow of blood around the body, and is often used to treat heart issues. It can also improve patients' moods and make them become more active, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Sharapova said she began taking the drug for a magnesium deficiency and irregular EKGs, which can signal problems with the heart's electrical activity. Her family also has a history of diabetes, she added