Photo: FameFlynet'Honest mistake': Sharapova, 28, announced on Monday that she had been caught in a doping test after taking the drug, which became a banned substance in January
Maria Sharapova was 'warned five times' by tennis authorities meldonium had been banned in January - Russian federation warned her too
Sharapova said she'd taken meldonium for ten years for 'health issues'but acknowledges 'it is every player's responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.'
Maria Sharapova 28, announced on Monday that she had been caught in a doping test after taking the drug, which became a banned substance in January. She failed a doping test at the Australian Open.
Photo: Getty Images
Claimingit was an honest mistake, as she had taken the drug, sold as Mildronate in Russia, for ten years and had failed to notice that it had been banned.
However, three correspondences from the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and two from the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) were sent to players containing warnings that meldonium was to be banned, according to the Times.
In addition, the World Anti-Doping Agency had also give players notice of the new ban as early as September last year.
This followed a statement by the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) on Wendesday entitled: 'To the attention of sports people and coaches.'
'The ARAF has on multiple occasions warned sports people, coaches, and support staff that, since Jan. 1 this year meldonium is included in the list of the banned substances.'
Maria Sharapova was spotted hitting the gym in Los Angeles, just a day after admitting she had failed a drug test and would be suspended as a result
The five-time Grand Slam champion wore Nike leggings and a Nike sweatshirt even though the brand ended their deal, an eight-year contract extended in 2010 for a reported $70 million, just hours after her announcement. T
Sharapova, 28, was also spotted driving her Porsche to the supermarket on Tuesday afternoon. Porsche, said that while they are 'certainly not dumping' Sharapova, they are currently 'not pursuing any further activities' with her
The announcement said on several occasions last year items were posted on the federation's website stating meldonium was banned, the message was also passed on at a conference of coaches last October and at three training camps.
Despite the scandal surrounding her, Sharapova was seen dressed head-to-toe in Nike gear and drove her Porsche to the supermarket on Wendesay - even though both brands suspended their relationship after her revelation.
She hit the gym in Los Angeles wearing black Nike leggings and a black Nike sweatshirt. The brand ended her most lucrative deal, an eight-year contract extended in 2010 for a reported $8.5 millions a year, just hours after her announcement on Monday.
She looked relaxed and even smiled as she walked around, even though she has lost at least $14 millions worth of sponsorship contracts in the past 24 hours and doesn't know yet how her career will be affected.
She then drove her Porsche to Whole Foods, this time wearing white Nike sneakers. Porsche, another one of her major partners, said that while they are 'certainly not dumping' Sharapova, they are currently 'not pursuing any further activities' with her. Her deal with Porsche was worth $2.8 million.
Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer followed suit, saying its contract with Sharapova had expired at the end of 2015 and it has pulled out of negotiations on a new agreement. The contract was also priced at $2.8 million.
Her other partners, Avon, Evian and Head, have yet to comment.
Nike's deal with Sharapova was worth $8.5million a year. Her contracts with TAG Heuer and Porsche reached $2.8 million each. This brings her losses to at least $14milion - and her other partners Avon, Evian and Head have yet to comment
The day after admitting she had tested positive for meldonium, Sharapova shopped at Whole Foods and kept her sunglasses inside. She said during a press conference she took 'full responsibility' for failing the test
Sharapova, pictured during her trip to Whole Foods on Tuesday, said she received an email telling her meldonium had been added to the list of banned substances but didn't look at it
She admitted yesterday during a press conference at a Los Angeles hotel she had tested positive for meldonium, a drug she had been taking for a decade, during the Australian Open in January.
The International Tennis Federation has confirmed Sharapova will be provisionally suspended from the sport from March 12 but hasn't said how long her suspension will last.
Serena Williams praised Sharapova for her 'courage' in disclosing her failed drug test, saying she had shown 'a lot of courage'.
'I think most people were happy she was upfront and very honest,' Williams said during a news conference for a Madison Square Garden event on Tuesday.
'It's just taking responsibility, which she admitted that she was willing and ready to do,' Williams added. 'Just hope for the best for everybody in that situation.'
'I think she's always shown courage and heart in everything she's done, and this is no different.'
Despite Sharapova's suspension, the president of the Russian Tennis Federation has said he expects her to play in the Olympics in Brazil in August this year.
Meldonium, the drug that caused her to fail the test, also known as Mildronate, was legal for most of Sharapova's career but was banned on January 1.
The Russian athlete said she received an email from WADA informing her of the changes but didn't look at the list.
Sharapova looked relaxed even though she has lost millions of dollars worth of sponsorship deals in the past 24 hours and doesn't know yet how her career will be affected
The International Tennis Federation has confirmed Sharapova will be provisionally suspended from the sport from March 12 but hasn't said how long her suspension will last
She said during her news conference that she was initially given meldonium in 2006 by her 'family doctor' and kept taking it for a decade due to health issues such as a magnesium deficiency and a genetic disposition towards diabetes.
However, the drug which is mainly available in Eastern Europe is said to have become a drug of choice for Russian athletes implicated of cheating in other sports. It was regularly given to Soviet troops in the 1980s to boost their stamina.
Latvian manufacturers that make meldonium have now said that the substance is normally prescribed for medical use for four to six weeks - much shorter than Sharapova's course of treatment.
A Grindeks spokesman said: 'Depending on the patient's health condition, treatment course of meldonium preparations may vary from four to six weeks.
'Treatment course can be repeated twice or thrice a year.
'Only physicians can follow and evaluate patient's health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time.'
In a statement on Monday night, Nike said: 'We are saddened and surprised by the news about Maria Sharapova. We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. We will continue to monitor the situation.'
Announcement: Maria Sharapova revealed that she failed a drugs test at the 2016 Australian Open after testing positive for meldonium
Admission: Reading a statement to a host of journalists in Los Angeles yesterday, she said she took 'full responsibility' for the test failure
An Evian spokesman said today that the company was 'surprised' by the announcement, but would neither confirm not deny that they were ending their endorsement deal with Sharapova.
WHAT IS MELDONIUM?
Meldonium, also known as Mildronate, was added to the new banned list of drugs last year, which came into place on January 1, 2016.
The drug was added to the list because the World Anti-Doping Agency said there 'evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance.'
WADA had been observing Meldonium in 2015, adding it to its 'monitoring programme' to determine its effects on athletic performance.
Photo: EPAMeldonium (file picture above) was a medicine Sharapova took for 10 years but it became a prohibited substance on January 1
It is used medically to treat ischemia, or a lack of blood flow. It can be used as a metabolic enhancer to increase endurance through greater blood flow.
Sharapova said she had been taking the drug for ten years - but Latvian manufacturers Grindeks say that four to six weeks is a common course.
The Institute of Biochemistry - Center for Preventive Doping Research, German Sport University Cologne said of the drug: 'Anti-ischemic drug Mildronate demonstrates an increase in endurance performance of athletes, improved rehabilitation after exercise, protection against stress, and enhanced activations of central nervous system (CNS) functions.'
Photo: ReutersA manufacturing operator works at the meldonium packaging process in Riga
Sharapova said she has been taking the drug since 2006 to aid in a variety of health problems.
On December 22 of last year, WADA sent out an email indicating what drugs would be banned starting in 2016 and Sharapova conceded that she received but did not read that email.
Sharapova poses with her trophy after she won against Serena Williams in the ladies' final match at Wimbledon in 2004. Serena has since praised Sharapova's 'courage' in disclosing her failed drug test
Before the storm: Maria Sharapova os pictured during the Australian Open on 26 January
In response to the announcement, Steve Simon, WTA chief executive, said: 'I am very saddened to hear this news about Maria. Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity.
'Nevertheless, as Maria acknowledged, it is every player's responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.
'This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process.'
The 28-year-old faces a ban of several years, having been informed of the finding 'a few days ago'. She said that was unrelated to her withdrawal from the Indian Wells event this week, as she is presently injured anyway.
Sharapova said on Monday that this was not how she wanted her career to end and she hoped to find her way back to tennis one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment