Maria Sharapova Failed Drug Test At Australian Open, Faces 2-4 Year Ban
Tennis star Maria Sharapova held a press conference today. She announced that she failed a drug trust at the Australian Open in January.
Maria Sharapova announces that the ITF notified her she failed a drug test at the Australian Open, tested positive for Meldonium.
— SI Tennis (@SI_Tennis) March 7, 2016
The drug in question was meldonium, which was banned by WADA effective January 1, 2016. Sharapova claims she has been taking the drug for 10 years prescribed by a doctor.
Sharapova: Took Meldonium since 2006 for Mg deficiency, family history of diabetes, irreg. EKG. Drug put on WADA banned list in January.
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 7, 2016
Meldonium is used an anti-ischemic drug to treat heart disease. It was reputed to be popular with athletes in former Soviet Union countries before it was banned. Russian ice dancer Ekaterina Bobrova just tested positive for it before the World Championships..