Murray insists Sharapova had no 'valid excuse' for failing drug test

Maintaining his hardline stance on Maria Sharapova's conviction, British tennis maestro Andy Murray has said that the Russian star had no 'valid excuse' for failing a drug test at this year's Australian Open.

Murray's comments came hours after Sharapova appealed against her 'unfairly harsh' two-year suspension to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Earlier this month, the 29-year-old Russian was punished by a three-member Tennis Anti-Doping Program tribunal appointed by the International Tennis Federation for testing positive for the banned substance meldonium at the Australian Open.

Meldonium was placed on the banned list by the World Anti-Doping Agency this year but the 2012 Olympic silver medallist said that she had been taking the drug since 2006 legally for years for health reasons.

Reflecting on the issue, Murray claimed that his thoughts on Sharapova had not changed, adding that she deserved to be punished for her wrongdoings, the Guardian reported.

Sharapova, while announcing her failed drug test, had admitted that she made a 'huge mistake', by not looking at the list of prohibited items sent from the WADA for 2016.

Murray, the world number two, insisted that he did not find Sharapova's claims to be valid, adding that it was her responsibility as an athlete to make sure that she had been taking a legal medication.

Murray, however, refused to comment whether the beleaguered star should be allowed to play in the Olympics if her appeal, which is to be heard on or before July 18, were successful in overturning her conviction.

Murray, who was speaking after progressing to the second round at the Queen's Club, had demanded a suspension for Sharapova in March.