Kristina Mladenovic rips into 'cheater' Sharapova over drug violation

French tennis player Kristina Mladenovic has launched a blistering tirade on Maria Sharapova, saying that the beleaguered Russian is being viewed as a 'cheater' after she tested positive for a banned drug at this year's Australian Open.

Mladenovic admitted that Sharapova's revelations made her think whether the five-time Grand Slam deserved what she had won until now, news.com.au reported.

The 22-year-old continued her relentless attack saying that Sharapova has no excuse for what she had done, adding that the Russian tennis star was neither 'nice nor polite'.

She, however, expressed her satisfaction over the efficient functioning of the anti-doping program from which not even top-players can escape from being caught.

Earlier in the week, Sharapova announced that she had tested positive for meldonium, the banned substance which she had been taking since 2006 for health issues.

Meldonium was placed on the banned list by the World Anti-Doping Agency from this year.

Following the announcement, Sharapova has been provisionally suspended from the sport by the International Tennis Federation and saw major sponsors like Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche sever ties with the Russian.

The former world number one had also dismissed suggestions that she was warned five times about changes to tennis anti-doping rules before testing positive.