At a press conference in Singapore on Thursday (28th April), tennis icon Martina Navratilova said she doesn't believe suspended former world number one Maria Sharapova was trying to cheat after the Russian tested positive for the banned substance meldonium.

SOUNDBITE: (English) Martina Navratilova, Ambassador, WTA, (on Maria Sharapova's status)

"Well, I'm waiting for them to make a decision. It's been a while, I'm not sure why it is taking so long other than, from what I understand, there is close to 200 athletes that tested positive for the drug. So, clearly there was some disconnect between making clear that this is now illegal, and I don't think WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) - by their own admission - didn't know how long that stuff stays in your system, so some athletes tested positive even though they stopped taking it prior to 2016. So I think they just didn't think it through well enough... and that's why I think it is taking so long to make the decision. For me personally, I've said this many times, I'm very sure that Maria (Sharapova) didn't know this thing was on the list, otherwise she would never have taken it because we are so paranoid about taking anything that is on that list, that players don't even take over-the-counter stuff unless they know it's a hundred per cent safe. Usana is one of the sponsors of the WTA, I think those are the only vitamins that players take because they know that there is nothing in there. So, Maria (Sharapova) made a big mistake, needless to say, taking stuff that was on the list, she should have known that, but there is no doubt in my mind that she was trying to cheat. So whatever they decide to do I think they'll have to be pretty uniform with all the other athletes, and I'm pretty sure I'm speaking on behalf of the athletes, that they wish they would just figure out what to do, so they know where they stand."