Barbora Zahlavova Strycova banned for six months after testing positive

Banned Barbora Zahlavova Strycova can return to action in mid-April

Barbora Zahlavova Strycova has been suspended for six months by the International Tennis Federation after testing positive for a banned substance.

The 26-year-old Czech, currently ranked 124 in the world, was found to have sibutramine - a substance found in a weight-loss product - in her blood.

She failed a drugs test during last year's Luxembourg Open and an ITF statement read: "Ms Zahlavova Strycova asserted that the sibutramine, for which she did not hold a valid therapeutic use exemption, had got into her system through her ingestion of the supplement ACAI Berry Thin.

"She denied any intent to enhance her performance as a result of taking the ACAI Berry Thin."

Zahlavova Strycova's ban has been backdated to October 16, meaning all of her results since then have been wiped out. She can start competing again from midnight on 15 April.

Her career-high ranking is 39, a position she reached in July 2010.