Former French Open finalist Sara Errani will serve a two-month doping ban after testing positive for the banned substance letrozole in a test taken in February, the International Tennis Federation said yesterday.

Errani blamed contamination from her mother’s breast cancer medication.

Letrozole can help increase body mass and has been banned for all athletes since 2005 following concerns from the World Anti-Doping Agency it was being abused by bodybuilders. There is no evidence it would enhance the performance of an elite tennis player.

“I never took, in my life and during my career, any prohibited substance,” Errani said in a statement. “I am extremely disappointed but at the same time at peace with my conscience and aware I haven’t done anything wrong.”

An adjudication panel ruled that Errani’s fault was “at the lower end of the scale,” but that she should still be banned for two months from August 3.

The Italian has also been retroactively disqualified from tournaments from February 16 through June 7. Her only notable performance in that period was a semi-final in Rabat, Morocco, in May, plus a second-round loss at the French Open.

Errani’s ban will end on October 2, precluding her from playing in the US Open.

Errani reached the 2012 French Open final, losing to Maria Sharapova, and has completed a career grand slam in women’s doubles with Roberta Vinci.

The 98th-ranked Errani has won nine singles titles and 25 doubles titles in her WTA career. She reached a career-high singles ranking of November 5 in 2013.

She also helped Italy to three Fed Cup titles.