Czech tennis player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova was banned Thursday for six months for doping.
The International Tennis Federation said the 26-year-old Strycova tested positive for the stimulant sibutramine on Oct. 16 at the Luxembourg Open. She said the drug got into her system through a supplement and denied taking it to enhance her performance.
The ITF did not dispute the claim but still banned her for the doping violation.
Strycova's ban has been backdated from Oct. 16 and all her results, prize money and ranking points since then will be wiped out. She hasn't played on the WTA Tour since then and missed the Australian Open.
She will be eligible to return on April 15.
Strycova, who is 124th in the WTA rankings, has won one title - the Bell Challenge in Quebec City in 2011. She has won 17 doubles titles in her career.
She also plays for the Czech Republic's Fed Cup team and represented the country at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
