Sharapova rallies as doping ban ends

Former women's world No.1 Maria Sharapova says she will return to the court from her doping ban with her head held high.

Maria Sharapova says she will return to tennis from her doping ban with her head held high. (AAP)

Maria Sharapova believes she succeeded in a fight against injustice by managing to get her doping ban reduced to 15 months.

The five-time Slam winner and former world No. 1 plans to return to competition next month at Stuttgart.

She told a women's sports conference on Tuesday she didn't believe a two-year suspension was fair after she tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 Australian Open.

The Russian-born Sharapova says although she's closer to the end of her career than the beginning, she didn't want to finish "on someone else's terms," and she "fought hard for the truth to be out."

Sharapova spoke at the ANA Inspiring Women in Sports Conference, a gathering of athletes and prominent professionals preceding the LPGA's first major of the season.