LONDON — Maria Sharapova will be eligible to return to competitive tennis in April after her two-year doping ban was reduced to 15 months on Tuesday by a sports court that found the Russian star bore no “significant fault” for her positive drug test and did not intend to cheat.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport cut nine months off the suspension imposed on Sharapova, who tested positive for the banned heart medication meldonium at the Australian Open in January.

Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player, appealed to CAS in June seeking to overturn or reduce the two-year penalty imposed by the International Tennis Federation.

In a 28-page ruling, the CAS panel found that Sharapova bore “some degree of fault” but “less than significant fault” in the case that has sidelined one of the world’s most prominent and wealthy female athletes.

“The panel has determined, under the totality of the circumstances, that a sanction of 15 months is appropriate here given her degree of fault,” the three-man arbitration body ruled.

While Sharapova did commit a doping violation, “under no circumstances … can the player be considered to be an ‘intentional doper,'” the panel said.

Sharapova’s ban, which took effect on Jan. 26, was originally due to run until Jan. 25, 2018.

Now she can return on April 26, 2017, a month ahead of the French Open, a Grand Slam tournament she has won twice.

“I’ve gone from one of the toughest days of my career last March when I learned about my suspension to now, one of my happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April,” Sharapova said in a statement.

“In so many ways, I feel like something I love was taken away from me and it will feel really good to have it back,” she said.

“Tennis is my passion and I have missed it. I am counting the days until I can return to the court.”

The doping suspension kept the 29-year-old Sharapova out of this year’s French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open, as well as the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She will also miss the 2017 Australian Open in January.

“Maria is absolutely one of the stars of the game, so she’s missed when she’s not available to play,” WTA CEO Steve Simon told The Associated Press. “We’re very much looking forward to seeing her come back to the court next spring.”

Simon said Sharapova, who will have to rebuild her ranking from scratch, is entitled to “unlimited” wild cards based on her record. He expects her to be granted wild cards as soon as she is eligible, including for the French Open.

“I would be very surprised if there are too many tournaments that wouldn’t extend her that opportunity,” Simon said in a telephone interview. “I think she’ll be able to work her way back onto the tour.”

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