While there are modest gains in athletic performance by using Meldonium, it can also be used as a masking agent for the absolute gold standard of endurance blood doping, EPO.
5
It may be time to roll back some of the authority given to WADA, particularly where their rules conflict with the legitimate medical needs of athletes. Tailor the rules to the needs of the athletes, allowing blanket bans of medicines is insane.
Sponsors dropping Maria so suddenly is very different than their treatment of past athletes who knowingly committed errors and tried to cover up. This was an honest mistake. Shame on Nike, Porsche and others for deserting her. They have double standards. Maria should be slapped on the wrist and be able to return to the court immediately.
2
She says she has "signs" of diabetes. What does that mean? A fasting blood test should be able to give you a more definitive answer.
4
One commenter writes, "She took the drug on the order of a physician. I question whether a drug necessary for health should be on the banned list."
I would note that many of the baseball players who admittedly or allegedly took "performance enhancing drugs" did so "on the order of a physician." I hope that all those who are temperate in their judgement of Sharapova (as am I) will reconsider their excoriating damnation of baseball players. Or, are we to assume women should be held to different standards than men?
I would also note that doctors are no less amenable to cutting corners and being bought than are any other group in society.
I would note that many of the baseball players who admittedly or allegedly took "performance enhancing drugs" did so "on the order of a physician." I hope that all those who are temperate in their judgement of Sharapova (as am I) will reconsider their excoriating damnation of baseball players. Or, are we to assume women should be held to different standards than men?
I would also note that doctors are no less amenable to cutting corners and being bought than are any other group in society.
4
I would note that many of the baseball players who admittedly or allegedly took "performance enhancing drugs" did so "on the order of a physician."
=============
Name one.
=============
Name one.
3
" Williams has defeated Sharapova 18 times in a row and would not say Tuesday that she faced a disadvantage in any of those matches.
“I don’t think I’m the best person to ask that question,” Williams said."
Priceless Serena and that pretty much sums it up.
It doesn't matter how much oxygen you can utilize when you play Serena Williams.
And please people, Serena takes the same drug tests, it's her physique, get over it already.
“I don’t think I’m the best person to ask that question,” Williams said."
Priceless Serena and that pretty much sums it up.
It doesn't matter how much oxygen you can utilize when you play Serena Williams.
And please people, Serena takes the same drug tests, it's her physique, get over it already.
6
I really don't smell an intentional foul here. I am a bit surprised and disgusted by Nike and Tag Heuer in dropping their support of her. I would also suggest firing someone on her team of experts who failed to catch this before it was a problem.
Ms. Sharapova has just shown the proper way to address the public with an indiscretion. Well done, and all the best on a still bright future.
Ms. Sharapova has just shown the proper way to address the public with an indiscretion. Well done, and all the best on a still bright future.
1
She's known what she was doing all along...enhancing her athletic performance taking mildronate. She got busted. Hopefully we don't have to listen to her screams and grunting, anymore. Her game through injuries and old age has collapsed to almost nothing in major competition. Good riddance!
6
This woman has a dozen PR agents telling her how to dress, what to say, how to tweet, when to smile. She makes millions, many many millions, from endorsing every single product, from phones to candy to everything in between except men's underwear. But she takes a performance enhancing drug which is used to treat conditions she does not even have, and when failed the drug test, claims she did not read the instructions. Her excuse makers, and all white tennis fans promptly forgive her, and direct their ire at Serena because she was supposed to be the drugged up player, not their blonde blue eyed model.
13
There is no more coded word in tennis than "classy"
When Williams sisters win, they are muscular, beastly, and suspected to be on PEDs, drugs and worse, because otherwise how could they win?
When Sharapova announces she failed a drug test, she is classy. Why is that? It is not as if the result would not have come out. She is classy, because she wanted to control the initial news break, in her own words, and she is a world class PR machine, but to her excuse makers, she is classy.
Serena gets a viral fever at the Wimbledon, and is disoriented. Promptly, from jealous ex players like Navratilova to every single white tennis fan starts accusing Serena of being on drugs. Any proof? None is required when it is the Williams sisters.
Maria flunks a drug test, admits she has been on it for 10 years, it has no medical use except as a performance enhancer, is not used in her country of domicile, is prescribed by a doctor in Russia where she has not lived since she was a little girl, is a drug which is used by athletes in Russia extensively and a country which has a deep history of doped athletes, and a drug which has been banned in other sports. She gives a laughable excuse about diabetes, heart condition etc, which she has none. I am a diabetic for 15 years, and I know I never took it. Somehow, her action is classy.
And no, there is no racism in tennis. None.
When Williams sisters win, they are muscular, beastly, and suspected to be on PEDs, drugs and worse, because otherwise how could they win?
When Sharapova announces she failed a drug test, she is classy. Why is that? It is not as if the result would not have come out. She is classy, because she wanted to control the initial news break, in her own words, and she is a world class PR machine, but to her excuse makers, she is classy.
Serena gets a viral fever at the Wimbledon, and is disoriented. Promptly, from jealous ex players like Navratilova to every single white tennis fan starts accusing Serena of being on drugs. Any proof? None is required when it is the Williams sisters.
Maria flunks a drug test, admits she has been on it for 10 years, it has no medical use except as a performance enhancer, is not used in her country of domicile, is prescribed by a doctor in Russia where she has not lived since she was a little girl, is a drug which is used by athletes in Russia extensively and a country which has a deep history of doped athletes, and a drug which has been banned in other sports. She gives a laughable excuse about diabetes, heart condition etc, which she has none. I am a diabetic for 15 years, and I know I never took it. Somehow, her action is classy.
And no, there is no racism in tennis. None.
17
Sharapova should receive the same punishment for doping as Lance Armstrong and Marion Jones.
The ideal circumstance for an athlete is to learn about and dope with a drug that has not yet come under scrutiny for performance enhancement..
So buying her excuse that for 10 years, or almost the entire length of her career, she innocently used a drug that was not banned, does not hold water.
Since doping gives an athlete an unfair advantage, what would be fair? All of the opponents that she has beaten while taking the drug, for instance, could demand that her wins be nullified.
The ideal circumstance for an athlete is to learn about and dope with a drug that has not yet come under scrutiny for performance enhancement..
So buying her excuse that for 10 years, or almost the entire length of her career, she innocently used a drug that was not banned, does not hold water.
Since doping gives an athlete an unfair advantage, what would be fair? All of the opponents that she has beaten while taking the drug, for instance, could demand that her wins be nullified.
12
I believe her and forgive her. She is just too pretty on the courts to be banned from Tennis.
2
Will another shoe drop? Wasn't there some news recently about gambling and game-throwing in professional tennis, with allegations about Russian criminal elements being involved???
2
It looks as if Ms. Sharapova's sponsors aren't buying her PR Agency apology either.
Nike, Tag Heuer and others have essentially dumped her.
Of course that doesn't mean it is not a PR move on those corporations part but it appears to signal a lack of willingness on their part to accept the "my mothers 3rd cousin twice removed had diabetes or my heart was beating 1 beat per day too slow so my doctor prescribed this for me" excuse...
Nike, Tag Heuer and others have essentially dumped her.
Of course that doesn't mean it is not a PR move on those corporations part but it appears to signal a lack of willingness on their part to accept the "my mothers 3rd cousin twice removed had diabetes or my heart was beating 1 beat per day too slow so my doctor prescribed this for me" excuse...
10
While I have much respect for Maria Sharapova and am giving her the benefit of the doubt that this was in fact an honest mistake, I do find just a tiny bit of irony from her, her team, her fans, and many others in the tennis world who would not be so gracious had this been Serena Williams.
9
Though I suspect the motivation of initially taking the drug, her press conference is night and day, night and day, compared to what we usually see. (think Lance Armstrong, Roger Clemens and so many more...) Her apology was quick and heartfelt. (If this happened to Serena and she was as genuine as this, I would be writing the same thing.) Yes, she did bring notes to the stage but she was not reading them. Her remorse at violating the ban (as well as getting caught) is authentic. She is not fighting it, she apologized sincerely, lets move on and perhaps lest pay less attention to professional sports in general, very little good is coming from them. I do not watch pro football, I do not watch pro tennis. I encourage others to do likewise.
I admire the lady Maria Sharapova I believe that she sough easier way the easy way
Holy East Germany medicos, is it possible that enhancers are still being brewed? Yep. That docs say "Take this" even when no medical need says so? Yep.
Is it possible Maria's expensive team of supporters didn't know? Nope.
Did the ancient Romans like a sound mind in a sound body? Yep.
Perhaps the contemporary sporting world should be reminded of that ideal.
A huge fine to support drug-free amateur play will help.
Is it possible Maria's expensive team of supporters didn't know? Nope.
Did the ancient Romans like a sound mind in a sound body? Yep.
Perhaps the contemporary sporting world should be reminded of that ideal.
A huge fine to support drug-free amateur play will help.
2
Much is being made of Sharapova. But what of the other two athletes, both women, who tested positive? What is their fate? Neither Abeba Aregawi, a Swedish runner (won the women’s 1,500 meters at the 2013 world championships), nor Russian ice dancer Ekaterina Bobrova who had tested positive for meldonium at the 2016 European Fig. Skating Champs. have been sanctioned to our knowledge. Why not?
1
It's very simple: If you wish to get rid of the problem of drug abuse in sports, quit expecting enhanced performance from your favorite sports persons.
3
She's Russian. They have an on-going culture of cheating that matches one of the most cynical cultures in history. It's systemic, they are always on the cutting edge of artificial enhancement, have been since the end of WWII and the resumption of international competition in all sports. They take great pride in it.
She obviously was not using it is intended to be used for medical purposes so what's left?
Just another cheater, another doper. So she admitted it when caught. What choice did she have, denial? A "class act"?! As opposed to what?
She obviously was not using it is intended to be used for medical purposes so what's left?
Just another cheater, another doper. So she admitted it when caught. What choice did she have, denial? A "class act"?! As opposed to what?
15
This whole thing is ridiculous. If she can provide the doctor who can say when and why he prescribed them to her knowing they weren't a banned substance then I'm not sure how long they can suspend her for. Yes she took it after it was officially banned so there should be a punishment, but to label her a cheater and try to make an example out of her...not cool.
1
What a bunch of bunk. Let's call a spade a spade, the woman is lying through her teeth. Diabetes, magnesium deficiency? Really?
Meldonium is a PED, strictly for the fact that this drug is known to help pump blood throughout the entire body, subsequently, increasing oxygen levels and metabolism = enhancement. This IS one of the reasons why it was banned.
Ms. Sharapova knew exactly what she was doing and why. As the reigning "face" of tennis, obviously because she's blonde and marketable, because of this revelation she has no business playing the sport ever again.
Meldonium is a PED, strictly for the fact that this drug is known to help pump blood throughout the entire body, subsequently, increasing oxygen levels and metabolism = enhancement. This IS one of the reasons why it was banned.
Ms. Sharapova knew exactly what she was doing and why. As the reigning "face" of tennis, obviously because she's blonde and marketable, because of this revelation she has no business playing the sport ever again.
14
Q: Will they strip any tiles from her?
Armstrong lost all his Tour De France titles.
Armstrong lost all his Tour De France titles.
8
Imagine if Serena had tested positive. The outrage and "I told you so's" would have droned out any sympathy. Sharapova's claim on ignorance rings false. Every aspect of her training and diet is monitored. She is a US resident taking a drug not approved for use in the United States. The list of people now busted for using this PED continues to grow by the day.
14
@Dante,
If Serena get caught, "some" will be calling for a firing squad in Times Square.
I said "some"...but I could be wrong!
I know there will be almost no sympathizers-benefits of the doubt- like we have so many on this thread.
If Serena get caught, "some" will be calling for a firing squad in Times Square.
I said "some"...but I could be wrong!
I know there will be almost no sympathizers-benefits of the doubt- like we have so many on this thread.
8
If it had been Serena, Mary Carillo would be gleefully crowing about it for years to come.
8
From the National Center for Biotechnology website (12/15):
"To date, substances such as Mildronate (Meldonium) are not on the radar of anti-doping laboratories as the compound is not explicitly classified as prohibited. However, the 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."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
Sharapova's "coming clean" strikes me as pure, damage-control PR, designed to create the impression of honesty. The idea that she was taking the drug innocently all these years is highly doubtful. More than likely, it was a deliberate strategy by her handlers, under the guise of medical treatment, to boost her performance with a substance that was off the radar, and they were simply careless in missing the notification. The fact that several other prominent athletes have also tested positive suggests a pattern of abuse. That Sharapova has been taking it for 10 years calls her entire career in question, regardless of the fact that it wasn't banned for most of that time.
As is usually the case with cheaters in any realm, for every one that gets caught, you can assume there are many others that don't. With respect to the sporting world specifically, it's not a question of whether it's tainted, only to what extent.
"To date, substances such as Mildronate (Meldonium) are not on the radar of anti-doping laboratories as the compound is not explicitly classified as prohibited. However, the 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."
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
Sharapova's "coming clean" strikes me as pure, damage-control PR, designed to create the impression of honesty. The idea that she was taking the drug innocently all these years is highly doubtful. More than likely, it was a deliberate strategy by her handlers, under the guise of medical treatment, to boost her performance with a substance that was off the radar, and they were simply careless in missing the notification. The fact that several other prominent athletes have also tested positive suggests a pattern of abuse. That Sharapova has been taking it for 10 years calls her entire career in question, regardless of the fact that it wasn't banned for most of that time.
As is usually the case with cheaters in any realm, for every one that gets caught, you can assume there are many others that don't. With respect to the sporting world specifically, it's not a question of whether it's tainted, only to what extent.
12
She has been living in the US since she was 7. Yet, she has been taking a drug that has been band (not available) in her country of residence. Where did she get her injections (the US or abroad)? If she got them here, she needs to be band for life!
5
Why are we not surprised? Been wondering for years what the Williams sisters have been using, too.
1
Serena is all natural. And hopefully she will be the highest paid black women in this great America and society reconize that gifts come with out repentance.
4
Wow. A public figure who admits what she did and takes responsibility for her actions. Imagine if this were Hillary Clinton and the denials we would be hearing. Kudos to Ms. Sharapova for taking responsibility; that alone places her in an elite group of adults.
It is hard to believe Ms. Sharapova will face real consequences, but she needs to be much more careful with her public statements.
If the fallout ends up causing her retirement, that "fairly ugly carpet" will have gotten a very sweet revenge of sorts.
If the fallout ends up causing her retirement, that "fairly ugly carpet" will have gotten a very sweet revenge of sorts.
3
A long time ago, or so it seems, I took a class in college called, quite simply, "Business Ethics". Some of the concepts covered in the class were not so simple, but my recollection is that almost everything boiled down to "Is it legal?" and "Is it ethcial?".
In an effort to keep it "simple", the key determinant for me is that Sharapova made a choice, for several years, to take something that was not approved by the U.S. FDA. The fact that the substance was recently added to the WTA banned list (or whatever the list is called) belies the bigger point: pro athletes, when in doubt, are doing whatever they can to gain an advantage (or, more to the point, preserve their prime earning years). Ethical? Not even close? Legal? Don't ask that question, pesky Citizen.
In an effort to keep it "simple", the key determinant for me is that Sharapova made a choice, for several years, to take something that was not approved by the U.S. FDA. The fact that the substance was recently added to the WTA banned list (or whatever the list is called) belies the bigger point: pro athletes, when in doubt, are doing whatever they can to gain an advantage (or, more to the point, preserve their prime earning years). Ethical? Not even close? Legal? Don't ask that question, pesky Citizen.
5
The substance she used was not banned by the U.S. It is not approved for use or sale in the U.S. for medical purposes -- that is, it has not been tested and sanctioned by the FDA.
The substance, made in Latvia, is an approved pharmaceutical that is used medically there, and was only recently banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
The substance, made in Latvia, is an approved pharmaceutical that is used medically there, and was only recently banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
One commenter writes, "She took the drug on the order of a physician. I question whether a drug necessary for health should be on the banned list."
I would note that many of the baseball players who admittedly or allegedly took "performance enhancing drugs" did so "on the order of a physician." I hope that all those who are temperate in their judgement of Sharapova (as am I) will reconsider their excoriating damnation of baseball players. Or, are we to assume women should be held to different standards than men?
I would note that many of the baseball players who admittedly or allegedly took "performance enhancing drugs" did so "on the order of a physician." I hope that all those who are temperate in their judgement of Sharapova (as am I) will reconsider their excoriating damnation of baseball players. Or, are we to assume women should be held to different standards than men?
1
She says she took this drug from the tender age of 18 until age 28 for "magnesium deficiency" and because of a family history of diabetes. Why not take magnesium for magnesium deficiency? That's pretty easy. And take a prescription drug for angina and heart failure in your youth because you claim it will help prevent you from getting diabetes. That is a Lance Armstrong-type explanation. No wonder Nike et al are running away.
9
That's ok Maria, we will not judge you.
All of our elected officials are on $teroids too.
All of our elected officials are on $teroids too.
3
In reading all of these articles written about Maria Sharapova, I find it hard to grasp hold of her not being aware of the benefits or the side effects of her medications. It appears that by this particular medication not being banned, she was well aware of the enhancing factor and continued to use it, thereby ignoring the notification that she received. Subject to being caught, she would simply state (using the excuse), she didn't know. It's not rocket science, that when you experience a sudden energy boost from taking a drug, you are well aware of its potency! She's gotten away with using it for this long, she finally got caught. Some people are so quick to accuse Serena of using drugs, how can you be so quick to overlook or dismiss what Sharapova has done?
8
she's a great athlete and competitor-- a real inspiration to watch play tennis. i notice she's also speaks good english. May she'll consider becoming an American citizen.
2
This case shows how difficult it is to police performance enhancing drugs. And frankly it is going to get harder as athletes will move onto genetic engineering strategies because of the improving ability to edit genes (such as with CRISPR-cas9). It won't be long before we see athletes reduce the amount of GDF8 (as in growth differentiation factor 8; aka myostatin) their body makes allowing them to build muscle mass in the absence of exogenous steroids or growth homes. If this sounds like science fiction it isn't and will happen sooner rather than later.
1
She should get a slap on the wrist but no long term suspension.
Maria's done well for herself by winning 5 majors (including a career grand slam) over the past twelve seasons, which says a lot about consistency at the top of women's tennis. She's a marketer's dream for certain demographics and definitely good for the sport but seriously, can anyone looking objectively at athletics compare her to the true greats?
Her PED use puts her career in perspective: Maria is a pinup girl and a somewhat interesting celebrity who happens to be a talented tennis player but no great athlete.
Maria's done well for herself by winning 5 majors (including a career grand slam) over the past twelve seasons, which says a lot about consistency at the top of women's tennis. She's a marketer's dream for certain demographics and definitely good for the sport but seriously, can anyone looking objectively at athletics compare her to the true greats?
Her PED use puts her career in perspective: Maria is a pinup girl and a somewhat interesting celebrity who happens to be a talented tennis player but no great athlete.
1
A word of caution here. While lauding Maria for coming out fully and taking responsibility for her lapse in not adhering to the rules of the game, we should point out to our role models, including Sharapova, that they carry a huge weight on their shoulders, a weight of responsibility to inspire our children and even adults on the importance of fair play even in day to day business - doing things fair and square. By failing to meet the demands of the title - what it means to be an ideal sportsperson, cheaters in sports are planting the seed of doing anything, legal or not, in order to achieve a goal. It is wrong! There are sports people out there who work hard day and night but never attain prominence. These are the real role models whose light never shines bright because of the moral lapse in sports where, in order to earn huge sums of money, performance enhancing drugs are resorted to in order to achieve the goal. Sponsors bear some responsibility to the existence of this winner-takes-it -all mentality in sports. Could it be time for a revision of sponsorship?
2
Say no to drugs... She been doing it for years as Many users they only admit remorse when caught. Really. So glad that Serena isn't in that place.
3
"Newly band" meaning they were ok until recently? Ugh, the whole doping thing which permeates all aspects of professional sports these days has really taken the fun out of the whole damned thing. At the end of the day, people on this planet have much more important things to worry about than whether or not the highest paid female athlete on the planet broke the rules. Professional sports is now all about professional money and very little about sportsmanship and professional BEHAVIOR that we can all admire. Those days are long long gone and so has my enthusiasm for professional sports.
Maybe it would be a good idea to let the people on the scene complete their investigation and get all the facts in line before we all condemn Ms. Sharapova. there are all too many comments drawing way too many conclusions from what amounts to rumor and innuendo.
In the first place, anyone's use of the medication before it was banned is irrelevant, I believe the legal term is "ex post facto". In effect it means you can't get a speeding ticket for doing sixty last Tuesday when the limit was only lowered to fifty on Thursday. Also, if she has been taking the medication for ten years, it could very well have just become a part of daily routine and just gone unnoticed. I had a similar situation with warfarin a few years ago. I had been taking it for a few years following surgery. My doctor retired, and my new doctor looked at my test results and was surprised I was still taking it. After a few years, it had become routine and the question of necessity just didn't get asked.
Ms. Sharapova is to be commended for being forthright and admitting her own responsibility, in very high contrast to several baseball players and bicycle racers I could name.
In the first place, anyone's use of the medication before it was banned is irrelevant, I believe the legal term is "ex post facto". In effect it means you can't get a speeding ticket for doing sixty last Tuesday when the limit was only lowered to fifty on Thursday. Also, if she has been taking the medication for ten years, it could very well have just become a part of daily routine and just gone unnoticed. I had a similar situation with warfarin a few years ago. I had been taking it for a few years following surgery. My doctor retired, and my new doctor looked at my test results and was surprised I was still taking it. After a few years, it had become routine and the question of necessity just didn't get asked.
Ms. Sharapova is to be commended for being forthright and admitting her own responsibility, in very high contrast to several baseball players and bicycle racers I could name.
2
She states that she "had a family history of diabetes and there were signs of diabetes.” If so, why would she, in 2012, start the candy line called Sugarpova, peddling the sweet stuff world wide? According to CNNMoney, "Maria Sharapova is the world's highest paid female athlete. And some of those earnings can be credited to the success of her candy company, Sugarpova." I know this is her right to start such a business, but seems a bit disingenuous to me. Surely there are better ways for her to increase her wealth!
7
I find it amusing that Porsche, a VOLKSWAGEN brand, decided to suspend ties with Maria amid her failing the test. What a marvelous example of hypocrisy :)
2
I'm glad now maybe The real tennis player Serena will have now... She don't do drugs. She is clean and healthy unlike oops (u know who.
5
There was fair warning about the drug, as it went to the Monitor List in 2015 before being put on the Banned List in 2016. Not knowing the law is no excuse for breaking the law. It is surprising in the least that someone, ANYONE did not ever see the drug on the Monitor or Banned list but I do not really believe it was intentionally nefarious on Maria's part. You take a drug/medication for 10 years and it becomes your baseline, not an advantage. And someone of her profile and caliber would certainly have stopped the drug if they had known they were going to be breaking the rules. I just don't think it was intentional.
I hope she's back soon and I hope she finds support within the field of other tennis players.
I hope she's back soon and I hope she finds support within the field of other tennis players.
1. I'm glad she got caught. I'm glad any doper or cheater gets caught 2. I'm glad she admitted it instead of denying it for years like Lance. 3. She seems to be spinning it like she was taking a drug for a medical condition she had and then the drug got banned and "I mistakenly overlooked this email or letter." I'd guess that this spinning will unravel in the very near future if she can't prove she had those medical conditions and that a doctor didn't prescribe those meds. I read that the drug is for angina and heart attacks yet I've never heard of Maria having those conditions. Looks bad. 4. Serena beat her 19 of 21 times even though Maria was juiced up. 5. What happens to a player's previous titles and winnings if the ITF/TADP catches them doping? Didn't Lance have to give back money and titles? 6. It looks like the ITF bans players for 1-15 years. Maria should be banned for 4-6 years. 7. Maria won't be the last player to be caught using this drug. I expect many more.
7
She cannot be stripped of titles she won while the drug was not on WADA's list of banned substances. That's an entirely different set of circumstances than Lance Armstrong faced.
Bottom line. Once it was legal, today it is not. Something about passing laws for deeds of the past come to mind. Anyway, if she stops using it, then let her play. And of course, being up front about says much about her and her values as opposed to the hundreds of other professionals who deny everything in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
2
The article says the performance-enhancing effects are provided at a higher dose than the therapeutic cardiac effects. So, what was the dose she has been taking? Of course, she can always take more than the prescribed dose. Where did she get the prescription filled and how often? Maybe some insight to be gained from this info if it can be tracked down.
Athletes know about the performance enhancing capabilities of seeming innocent drugs long before science catches up.
It is difficult to believe that Sharapova had no idea that this drug, which is prescribed for patients with severe heart conditions, including heart failure, when taken in higher enough doses could also improve her stamina, etc.
Exactly how did taking the drug prevent her from having the flu or increase her level of magnesium, or somehow prevent her from developing diabetes?
It is simply more believable that she, as have other elite athletes, was doping to help her compete on the level that has brought her riches and acclaim.
In coming forward and taking "responsibility" , she positions herself as being honest and open, and therefore too honest to use a drug to cheat.
Some of her fellow athletes are praising her for coming forward, but what choice did she have? Her suspension was going to come out.
Former tennis champion, Jennifer Capriati may sound like a mean girl for lashing out at Sharapova for what she seems to believe is Maria's 10 years of doping and cheating, but anyone who is not willfully naive, would agree .
It is difficult to believe that Sharapova had no idea that this drug, which is prescribed for patients with severe heart conditions, including heart failure, when taken in higher enough doses could also improve her stamina, etc.
Exactly how did taking the drug prevent her from having the flu or increase her level of magnesium, or somehow prevent her from developing diabetes?
It is simply more believable that she, as have other elite athletes, was doping to help her compete on the level that has brought her riches and acclaim.
In coming forward and taking "responsibility" , she positions herself as being honest and open, and therefore too honest to use a drug to cheat.
Some of her fellow athletes are praising her for coming forward, but what choice did she have? Her suspension was going to come out.
Former tennis champion, Jennifer Capriati may sound like a mean girl for lashing out at Sharapova for what she seems to believe is Maria's 10 years of doping and cheating, but anyone who is not willfully naive, would agree .
17
Sharapova said her family doctor began prescribing the drug mildronate, also known as meldonium, in 2006 after several health issues arose, including frequent cases of the flu.
*deficiency in magnesium.
There is no magnesium in this drug.
*family history of diabetes
There is nothing in this pharmaceutical that would help diabetes.
*frequent cases of the flu
Hm. Caused by a virus, a heart medicine would hardly help the flu
The fact that she lost to the formidable Serena Williams is clearly an indication that her performance was not enhanced enough! And also, as the highest paid female athlete -- How did that happen, when she's only won 5 Grand Slams?
Sharapova’s lawyer, John Haggerty, said in an interview after the news conference that the medication “brought these conditions that she had under control.”
*deficiency in magnesium.
There is no magnesium in this drug.
*family history of diabetes
There is nothing in this pharmaceutical that would help diabetes.
*frequent cases of the flu
Hm. Caused by a virus, a heart medicine would hardly help the flu
The fact that she lost to the formidable Serena Williams is clearly an indication that her performance was not enhanced enough! And also, as the highest paid female athlete -- How did that happen, when she's only won 5 Grand Slams?
Sharapova’s lawyer, John Haggerty, said in an interview after the news conference that the medication “brought these conditions that she had under control.”
6
Probably the most honest thing she said was the snarky comment about the ugly comment.
6
I kind of feel sorry for Maria Sharapova. She is an exceptional player who has had the great misfortune to play her entire career in the shadow of the finest champion women's tennis has ever known. Perhaps the pressure of trying to compete with Serena Williams led her to look for any advantage she could get.
But I don't believe for a second that this was an accident, or that she was taking the drug for any reason other than to enhance her performance. And apparently Nike and Porsche don't believe it either. Perhaps one day, when the dust has settled and the possibility of rescuing her career no longer exists, she will tell the full truth. Because this isn't it.
But I don't believe for a second that this was an accident, or that she was taking the drug for any reason other than to enhance her performance. And apparently Nike and Porsche don't believe it either. Perhaps one day, when the dust has settled and the possibility of rescuing her career no longer exists, she will tell the full truth. Because this isn't it.
10
Have any academic studies been done on this drug? Does it work? Reading the various articles it seems like this drug was banned because it advertises itself as performance enhancing?
Long long back Tennis became a very big power game. Majority of the players must be certainly indulging in muscle building and strengthening of body by resorting to whatever means available. All that matters is boom boom serve. Big serve no return or weak return results in a huge advantage. So rackets and their strings have been modified to suit them. Further certain type of medicines have also played a big role in this.
As long as people that matter turn the other way, players simply have a blast and everything is at their disposal. Ever since Tennis has become power game right from the days of Martina Navaratilova, the beauty of Tennis got murdered on its own.
As long as people that matter turn the other way, players simply have a blast and everything is at their disposal. Ever since Tennis has become power game right from the days of Martina Navaratilova, the beauty of Tennis got murdered on its own.
2
Too much emphasis is being placed on the importance of sports. To a degree, it is a big who cares, but it is also a bad example that the "professionals" set for those young amateurs that hold them in high esteem.
2
Coming clean, you say? If judged by the spirit of the anti-doping rules, Sharapova has been cheating the sport of tennis for many, many years. Has she admitted to that yet?
A doctor from one of the world's most respected hospitals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease stated that Sharapova had no business taking that drug. Was she using it for a legitimate off label purpose... do we really believe one of the world's best athletes was fighting off Type II diabetes?
A doctor from one of the world's most respected hospitals for the treatment of cardiovascular disease stated that Sharapova had no business taking that drug. Was she using it for a legitimate off label purpose... do we really believe one of the world's best athletes was fighting off Type II diabetes?
10
Some how Ms. Sharapova's incident looks pale compared to the great Lance Armstrong's blaze.
2
She handled this in a very classy way, as far as I'm concerned. Good for her. I've always had a lot of respect for her tennis, but I think she's showed us she's also a decent human being. I also agree with those who have called for some perspective here . . . . it was legal until three weeks before she was tested. If anything, this points out the stupidity of the notion that we can effectively regulate these sorts of drugs when it comes to athletics.
If she was taking it for valid health reasons under a licensed medical doctor, there is usually an exemption. Need to hear all the facts come out.
I'm curious how athletes, who are probably more health-conscious than ordinary people, especially at the outer fringes of performance where a bad night's sleep may be enough to lose a match, are so willing to take a lot of strange drugs.
I mean, you meet with your doctor and he gives you a half-dozen bottles of medicines even well-informed people have never heard of, often stuff that isn't even regularly prescribed or is only prescribed in some places for weird conditions. It's *supposed* to have some kind side effect that enhances performance, but what about the long-term effects? You'll play tennis for 10-15 years, but presumably you plan on living a lot longer.
I mean, you meet with your doctor and he gives you a half-dozen bottles of medicines even well-informed people have never heard of, often stuff that isn't even regularly prescribed or is only prescribed in some places for weird conditions. It's *supposed* to have some kind side effect that enhances performance, but what about the long-term effects? You'll play tennis for 10-15 years, but presumably you plan on living a lot longer.
3
With all the money at stake these days I think we can safely say that there is no athlete who does not take something. Its becoming the new normal. It could be a nutritional supplement, designer drug, cryotherapy, oxygen therapy, plasma therapy. They all enhance performance in some way or another. I am getting desensitized by it all.
Meldonium is a drug that is used by athletes because it enhances blood flow and thus increases endurance for physical activity. Sharapova has been using this for 10 years and the excuse she gave about not getting the flu and getting her health to a normal level doesn't pass the smell test. The Latvian drug company that makes this drug says the normal course for this drug is 4-6 weeks. Moreover, it had to be smuggled into the US since it is not approved here in the US. So, now it is banned, let's all move on with the knowledge that athletes will always be one step ahead of the anti-drug doping agencies using performance enhancing drugs that are not yet known about. Technically, she violated the spirit of anti-doping since she was getting performance benefit from this drug for the last 10 years- but because it wasn't officially banned, she can get away with it. Luckily her corporate sponsors that pulled out of her endorsement contracts are not that gullible.
12
As a Russian she arrives in America, maintains her allegiance while representing Russia, and yet gets the benefit of white privilege which guarantees she makes the most money and become the "face" of tennis for American marketing purposes, though she is far down the scale in winning championships! And now she gets a pass after taking a drug long unapproved in the USA where she has resided for more than a decade! It enhances endurance, focus and learning capacity. Maria is not the problem; American values are!
7
Sharapova gets the kid gloves treatment for being in tennis. Had she been a professional cyclist or runner, we would have read another castigation of those dirty sports and their dirty athletes.
4
A mere nothing compared to the levels of corruption and match fixing recently revealed in this sport of kings.... Second only to FIFA.
Her candor is refreshing in spite of the message.
Her candor is refreshing in spite of the message.
2
The young woman has taken responsibility for the sanction and appears sincerely contrite. There is, however, on question that seems to be getting no attention. If she needs this medical for serious health reasons, as stated, does she plan to end its use? And if so, is there a readily available medication that performs the same functions that is approved by sports organizations?
As Serena's primary tennis rival, Maria provided a competitive spark to the Grand-Slam series. That she was vanquished regularly shed light on the value of her winning over the cosmetic value of her blond hair, blue eyes and long legs. Serena needed no more incentive than the obvious monetary discrepancy between Sharapova's endorsement income and that of the world's best player. I didn't like that inequality or other embarrassing snubs endured by some minority athletes, Serena among the most dramatic. That Maria took PED's reflects poorly on her sport, her team and her judgment, while demonstrating the pressure she felt to keep her lucrative brand the highest among female athletes, and a consistent cultural slap in the face of America's finest tennis talent. We pull for Serena because she made it outta Compton and continues to represent what can happen with effort and ability.
6
The impending suspension of Maria Sharapova will indeed be a devastating blow to women's tennis. This will leave Serena Williams as the only female player I would pay even one dollar to see compete in a grand slam tournament. The women's game is filled with imposters who retire after they win their 1st major, like Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon, in 2013, or Flavia Pennetta after the 2015 U.S.Open, or players who win just one major, like Francesca Schiavone, Petra Kvitova, and, most recently, Angelique Kerber,whom I watched in person upset Serena Williams in this year's Australian Open final. Ms Kerber's performance was so aggressive and inspired and uncharacteristic of her previous grand slam record that I am very cynical about her ever winning another major. They celebrated Li Na just for winning 2 majors before she retired. Victoria Azarenka is the only other active female player to have won as many as 2 majors. In my opinion there are no up-and-coming players in women's tennis who are likely to be even half as good as Maria Sharapova has been. The women's game has many other good players, but except for Serena none of them are outstanding.
2
Petra Kvitova has won Wimbledon twice (2011, 2014).
1
I was also wrong about Venus Williams, who won 7 majors, none of them since 2008. But there is no doubt about the fact that Maria Sharapova is the greatest female tennis player so far in the 21st Century outside of the Williams family. As for Petra Kvitova I would not be interested in paying $250 or more (in US or Australian currency) to see her in the final of a tennis major. Her record is too mediocre aside from those two Wimbledon wins. The unpleasant truth is that there are no new female superstars who are going to rescue the women's game from the potentially long period of mediocrity that is about to come upon it.
Second take. Watched the video (don’t always). One word: Handlers. And probably present for her entire professional life. But it’s the grown up woman speaking those words/lies and it is all very inauthentic to this listener, who is less swayed by pretty women acting sad than others might be. Innocent of the info or not, that’s ten years of PE added value! The only thing I can give her is that maybe she’s been coached by older, greedier creeps whose meal ticket is built upon her once natural skills and good looks.
3
If this was Serena, there would be an outcry for her head to be delivered on one of the Wimbledon platters along with attempts to invalidate her twenty-two grand slam titles.
7
a reply to bo . . . someone finally noticed or was not afraid to call this . . . serena looks like an n.f.l. linebacker and has for several years . . . that is just not feasible and i am sure i will be skewered for this but i do not care if she is green, she is not pysically normal and has not been for years . . . how? . . . and i have been type ii diabetic with an arrythmia for fifteen years and have never heard any of this "treatment"treedn William wilson dallas texas
2
While I'm not a fan of Sharapova's game, all that gut busting grunting has always been a distraction and a game gone soft, I can only speculate that the professional tennis ranks will be leveled since mildronate is widely used.
She needs to be punished. Lucky for her mildronate was only recently declared banned in January. She was busted for using a performance enhancing drug and ignorance of the rules, as they say, is no excuse. No need to shed any tears, Sharapova's plenty rich. So self-entitled!
She needs to be punished. Lucky for her mildronate was only recently declared banned in January. She was busted for using a performance enhancing drug and ignorance of the rules, as they say, is no excuse. No need to shed any tears, Sharapova's plenty rich. So self-entitled!
5
Who cares? Wealthy tennis player gets caught doing what we all know the majority of high-performance, professional athletes do.
Meanwhile, it'll be 85 degrees in Rhode Island tomorrow. (Slight exaggeration.)
Let's leave Sharapova alone, in all senses, and get on with the real business of species survival.
Meanwhile, it'll be 85 degrees in Rhode Island tomorrow. (Slight exaggeration.)
Let's leave Sharapova alone, in all senses, and get on with the real business of species survival.
3
Another reason to eschew professional sports.
5
Come on people; use your common sense! “I had a deficiency in magnesium. I had irregular EKG results, and I had a family history of diabetes and there were signs of diabetes.” She took the medication to enhance her performance, period. Legal until it wasn't and she got caught. She is a professional and expected to keep up with the legality of and report drugs taken. Another Lance Armstrong, but not as bad in that what he did was illegal the entire time. These people are a disgrace to society, our children whom we are trying to rear to be honest citizens, etc. Just another big let down for all of us honest people of the world.
7
That crack about the "fairly ugly carpet" is a low blow. Someone selected that carpet for that room and now has hurt feelings.
2
She took the drug on the order of a physician. I question whether a drug necessary for health should be on the banned list. The sports drug rules should not punish someone if they have a medical necessity for the drug. A medical necessity should take precedence over a sports rule.
We all want drug free sports, but that demand should not come at the health of people who must take a drug prescribed by their physician - especially if it had become a long standing requirement for the person's health. These are probably too many drugs on the list and the list should not include drugs which may be a medical necessity for a person.
Health should not be sacrificed to some sports committee who are not health professionals.
We all want drug free sports, but that demand should not come at the health of people who must take a drug prescribed by their physician - especially if it had become a long standing requirement for the person's health. These are probably too many drugs on the list and the list should not include drugs which may be a medical necessity for a person.
Health should not be sacrificed to some sports committee who are not health professionals.
1
No clean, upstanding doctor would prescribe this drug for minor health quirks especially to a pro-athlete knowing very well that it enhances athletic performance. If you are low on magnesium you take a magnesium supplement or change your diet to foods rich in magnesium like spinach, mackerel, brown rice, pumpkin seeds, bananas and avacado. The same applies for PRE- diabetes and such a diet sounds like one a pro-athlete would already be on anyway. What you do NOT do IF you are a person of integrity who wants to be a true winner is take drugs that gives you an unfair advantage even if they aren't on the list yet. However, some people have been taught to win at any cost. This is why I'm not at all surprised at what comes out of Russia (or China). It seems to be their MO across the board anyway. I don't know why anyone else in the world would be!
7
Marion Jones and Lance Armstrong were not Russian, or Chinese. Or of one race, gender, or any other superfluous differentiator.
It's about time we retire that narrative of maintaining American exceptionalism by talking about "them those people over there".
It's about time we retire that narrative of maintaining American exceptionalism by talking about "them those people over there".
2
LIAR, LIAR...! If you are low on magnesium, you either take a magnesium supplement or change your diet to a magnesium rich diet by eating spinach, brown rice,pumpkinseeds, mackerel ,avocado, and bananas to name a few. The same applies for treating PRE-diabetes which means you aren't even diabetic but may become diabetic if you don't change your diet life style. Also a wonkey EKG is not heart failure which is the only other use for Meldonium. Minor health quirks do not justify the use of this drug. No "clean, upstanding" doctor would automatically "right off the bat" perscribe Melodium for any of the excuses she gives especially knowing that Sharapova is a pro-athlete and this drug does in fact enhance athletic performance. The truth is that Russia's "star" athlete has been cheating for an entire decade! I really can't say I'm surprised at what comes out of Russia (or China). I don't know why anyone else would be either.
4
We only know about the atheletes that are caught or who admit to taking PEDs.
But why should I care? She does her job at a world class level, but her job is to swat a ball over a net for entertainment. She is not managing my retirement savings account or responsible for the quality of my drinking water.
But why should I care? She does her job at a world class level, but her job is to swat a ball over a net for entertainment. She is not managing my retirement savings account or responsible for the quality of my drinking water.
She says "I made a huge mistake." How could she have made a huge mistake by taking a "medicine" for ten years for medically necessary reasons? Doesn't add up.
4
The hating "you cheat!" crowd will love this. whenever a top sports star is "caught" or accused of cheating (think inflate-gate)--the peanut-munching crowd goes berserk! this jude-jury-and executioner crowd cares little for the other side of the story. why does the public LOVE to see stars fall? envy? an excuse to feel morally superior? probably both.
I find it odd that a writer or plumber or whatever can use whatever drugs they choose. while sports stars (read-'role models') like Peyton Manning now--are villified by the public for MAYBE using HGH or whatever. even without hard evidence--we put down the best and brightest athletes.
I find it odd that a writer or plumber or whatever can use whatever drugs they choose. while sports stars (read-'role models') like Peyton Manning now--are villified by the public for MAYBE using HGH or whatever. even without hard evidence--we put down the best and brightest athletes.
Well, it certainly hasn't enhanced her performance allowing her to dominate the game like Serena.
Who cares why she took it BEFORE it was banned in 2016? It wasn't banned. If it was legal to take it up until 2016, and it helps an athlete, I see no reason to fault any athlete for using legal enhancements. If officials were to decide a healthy diet is "performance enhancing" and ban it in 2017, as long as athletes go back to french fries and hamburgers on Jan 1, 2017, who cares? She broke the rules as of Jan 1, 2016, not before, but she broke the rules.
3
As a person who has taught tennis and other sports skills to hundreds of young children, I must take issue with those who refer to Maria Sharapova as a positive role model who somehow just made an unfortunate mistake. Shrieking like a banshee even after the ball has crossed into the opponent's court is obviously meant to intimidate and distract and has nothing to do with hitting the ball, despite the ongoing dispute over whether it should be allowed. Constant time violations which are rarely punished serve the same illegitimate purpose. And then of course, there is the marketing of Sugarpova candy to young children, from a person who claims to be concerned about diabetes. Role model? I think not.
8
“There is no way it would be clinically indicated in a healthy young athlete,” he said.
Lying until the bitter end, and beyond!
Lying until the bitter end, and beyond!
3
Well, there appears to be still some honesty and nobility left in this world.
Something's wrong. Why so contrite? If I were given a medicine by my doctor that was not banned but was eventually and I truly didn't know, I wouldn't look so ashamed (or trying to look ashamed). I would more likely be angry - with myself. For not checking the banned list and or the upcoming one and taking steps for alternative medication if necessary. So something fishy here.
3
Sharapova has created an elegant story to conceal her use of a performance enhancing drug. Sadly, it is still an obvious lie.......
4
The drug is not FDA approved so an American doctor didn't prescribe it and the manufacturer says the drug is "used for the treatment of different heart and vascular diseases,” and “for the improvement of work capacity of healthy people at physical and mental overloads and during rehabilitation period"
Meldonium is widely used by athletes for performance enhancement so who's kidding whom - doesn't sound like "grace and class" to me, sounds like getting caught and putting on the best face. Regardless of the spin Sharapova is now suffering from endorsement deficiency anemia.
Meldonium is widely used by athletes for performance enhancement so who's kidding whom - doesn't sound like "grace and class" to me, sounds like getting caught and putting on the best face. Regardless of the spin Sharapova is now suffering from endorsement deficiency anemia.
5
Before shedding too many tears for Maria praising her for her upfront admission, let's remember that Maria Sharapova is more than an individual but a hugely profitable business with an array of coaches, assistants and advisors, including legal and medical. Did nobody on team Sharapova get or read the memo about this banned substance Somebody must have supplied her or did she go on to the internet one dark night and order it under an assumed name. There are a lot more questions to be answered and the nice press conference didn't provide answers and was simply an exercise in PR and damage control. No doubt brand Sharapova is now tarnished but so is brand tennis. It is in both Sharapova's interest and the tennis establishment to limit the damage.
5
Serena would be roundly persecuted and vilified for doing the exact same thing. Yet this blonde lithe white woman, the highest paid female athlete in the world, is being treated with kid gloves by her corporate sponsors like Nike and the New York Times. Basically Maria should be banned from tennis. For 10 years, since she was 18 years old, her entire tennis career, she has been taking a performance enhancing drug and has admitted it. She is no role model and she should be ashamed of herself. But just like Brian Williams, a white man, can tell a lies in the course of his job as a journalist and be welcomed back to the a prime time anchor spot, Sharapova will ultimately get a pass. With this, how does Sharapova deserve more endorsements than Serena? She does not. But this is how institutional, systemic racism works. It's insidious. Where white people are too privileged to be forced to swiftly and permanently suffer for lying and cheating in a manner that cracks their very foundation of their profession, the lives of black people who would do the exact same thing would be irrevocably ruined.
4
Racist much? Serena would absolutely get a pass if she had taken something legal and accepted for 10 years and had only been banned for 10 weeks. And why not? She would deserve. Not everyone looks at the world through racial eyes.
1
Your vile racist attitude is the reason that if Serena ever did test positive it would never be revealed; the feared backlash from the Serena crowd ensures that.
Nike dumps Maria Sharapova within hours after a violation for a drug she had been taking legitimately for 10 years and has only this year been listed? Nike has shown patience with other athletes guilty of greater transgressions. For example, did they ever drop Tiger Woods after his debacle? Nike should be ashamed of this decision.
3
The substance was not banned until 2016. Therefore, none of Sharapova's prior accomplishments should be regarded or treated as tainted. Whether or not she returns to tennis competition after her suspension, there should be no asterisk next to her record.
That said, in the hype, pomp, and lavished riches of the sporting world, it takes four to tango: sporting organizations, athletes, their sponsors, and an adoring public. Sporting organizations have spotty records when it comes to identification of abuses and enforcement of the ever shifting rules of the road. Temptations and rewards for aspiring superhero athletes are enormous, courtesy of the culture of lionization of top performers.
The incentive to cheat is not innate to the athlete. It is systemic in the ambit of the sport.
That said, in the hype, pomp, and lavished riches of the sporting world, it takes four to tango: sporting organizations, athletes, their sponsors, and an adoring public. Sporting organizations have spotty records when it comes to identification of abuses and enforcement of the ever shifting rules of the road. Temptations and rewards for aspiring superhero athletes are enormous, courtesy of the culture of lionization of top performers.
The incentive to cheat is not innate to the athlete. It is systemic in the ambit of the sport.
this is actually humorous. Tennis as well as every other sport you can name has been full of PED's users for years. Anyone familiar with operation Puerto in Spain knows this. Spain was and is a haven for athletes needing to use PED's. Look it up and you won't be surprised. The list is long but unfortunately the Spanish courts buried most of it. the pro cyclists got hit the most. Pro sports are filthy with PED's. just a fact
2
I like Sharapova, but honestly think due to her "perceived All American"looks she has always gotten more perks than the American tennis players to include the Williams sisters. She has always made more money but they were Always ranked higher through the years.
She by her own admittance had a full medical team. I don't have a medical team but know what I'm taking as well as the benefits vs risks. If it was legal and for health maybe Venus should be taking be taking be taking it. Oh yeah she is taking medication authorized for use in the US. She was not the only one busted, and so I know it wasn't for her health, hence sponsors dropping off. Read about the other Russians and other failing the test. All Russian athletes suffering from diabetes and heart conditions? Sounds drug related.
Im sure many of you are only looking at the outside. Serena gets tested far more than any top tennis player male or female. Failed tests:0.
Would there be this mourning if it was her. I don't think so.
BTW Venus is still doing well immune deficiency and all. It's called heart and soul. not hair and eyes of blue
She by her own admittance had a full medical team. I don't have a medical team but know what I'm taking as well as the benefits vs risks. If it was legal and for health maybe Venus should be taking be taking be taking it. Oh yeah she is taking medication authorized for use in the US. She was not the only one busted, and so I know it wasn't for her health, hence sponsors dropping off. Read about the other Russians and other failing the test. All Russian athletes suffering from diabetes and heart conditions? Sounds drug related.
Im sure many of you are only looking at the outside. Serena gets tested far more than any top tennis player male or female. Failed tests:0.
Would there be this mourning if it was her. I don't think so.
BTW Venus is still doing well immune deficiency and all. It's called heart and soul. not hair and eyes of blue
7
lake,
How do you not think that your comment "not hair and eyes of blue" is not offensive; criticizing the woman for her looks. Would you have her dye her hair and wear gray tinted lenses?
All the haters on this thread project their feelings onto others, stating "that if this were Serena blah, blah, blah" as justification for tearing Sharipova down.
How do you not think that your comment "not hair and eyes of blue" is not offensive; criticizing the woman for her looks. Would you have her dye her hair and wear gray tinted lenses?
All the haters on this thread project their feelings onto others, stating "that if this were Serena blah, blah, blah" as justification for tearing Sharipova down.
Wow. I can’t believe the number of people who are bending over backwards and willing to look the other way for Ms. Sharapova. Meldonium was developed at the Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis to help prevent ischemia, which is a vascular disease that can lead to tissue death, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It may be used to treat brain circulation disorders. (Time Magazine). But primarily the drug is used to treat angina and myocardial infarction. The only reason for Ms. Sharapova to use this medication was to improve her performance, period. So, over a 10 year period it may have given her an unfair advantage over her opponents. Why is it so hard for some of you make the leap. Especially since other athletes have been busted using the same drug. Are the other athletes suffering from the same ailments as Sharapova? By the way, I think bringing up Serena Williams is a bit of side bar, but it is appropriate. I am certain that those who are giving Ms. Sharapova a pass would not hesitate to lambaste Serena and call for her to be stripped of all of her titles had she done the same thing. I’d stake my life on it.
6
K Bishop,
I suppose you feel that your comments regarding Sharipova aren't the tiniest bit racist in nature.
I'd stake my life on it
I suppose you feel that your comments regarding Sharipova aren't the tiniest bit racist in nature.
I'd stake my life on it
You clearly have suspended the ability to think about this matter in a systematic way and have chosen to do so heuristically. Sharapova used a drug that is primarily used for angina and myocardial infarction for 10 years. We now have learned the company recommends meldonium be only used for a period of "4 to 6 weeks" This further bolster my contention that she was using the drug to gain an unfair advantage over her opponents. This is what one calls a logical, well-reasoned conclusion; not racism. Now if you're capable of presenting empirical data that support her claims for using the drug other than what it was intended for, I will consider it and verify it's validity. As for my comment about Serena, I think you're truly naive if don't believe the reaction would have been far worse. I based this on logical and well-reasoned analysis as well. Firstly, despite being the best American tennis player ever, she is often unfairly ridiculed, accused of taking PED for which she never tested positive for any, and called every kind of racist, derogatory name by some of her fellow Americans. And lastly, African Americans are often met with harsher punitive measure throughout every aspect of American Society. Whether it be in our schools, the justice system, employment, etc. Both the historical and present day records are replete with empirical data that support my statement. And only a racist would deny this was so.
3
This is the standard response to getting caught. "I was taking it for health issues and didn't know it was a banned substance". A couple years ago a top athlete in the little watched and penny paid participant (in comparison to tennis and other sports) sport of motocross was banned for using a performance enhancer. His defense was the exact same. I have to believe, based on the number of athletes and top athletes at that, that have been caught, many if not most are using banned substances. I'm sure the support network for getting and using them is as developed as the sports themselves.
3
The head of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, a top US hospital, says that there is "no way it would be clinically indicated in a healthy young athlete". A little Googling confirms what this doctor said. This creates a major question about Sharapova's explanation for why she was taking the drug.
While her announcement yesterday may have been good crisis management, what she said yesterday about her use of this drug is highly suspect.
While her announcement yesterday may have been good crisis management, what she said yesterday about her use of this drug is highly suspect.
4
It is regrettable that helpful medication is banned by tennis. It is more regrettable that it is not available for medical care in United States.
1
The Olympics and major sports events should also have a gold medal for the team doctors. A gold medal to the doctor that can give a performance enhancing drug the longest before it is banned. Or detected.
A related category could be for the athletes performance after detection. Winning phrases from the past: "I didn't know it was a performance enhancement", and "It wasn't banned before" (a nod to the doctor while saying this).
I am sorry Maria, a healthy young adult, physically very fit, goes ten years taking a drug for some obscure ailment?
A related category could be for the athletes performance after detection. Winning phrases from the past: "I didn't know it was a performance enhancement", and "It wasn't banned before" (a nod to the doctor while saying this).
I am sorry Maria, a healthy young adult, physically very fit, goes ten years taking a drug for some obscure ailment?
3
Busted.
6
Her little girl "woe is me" routine will play well with the rubes. She was told about the banned drug, then did nothing. A lot of endorsement money is at stake.
5
Maria clearly heard Oscar Wilde's pronouncement on his deathbed about the horrid curtains in his room... in her case it was the "fairly ugly carpet" that would not be receiving any retirement notice from her then... but Oscar was said to have looked up at the curtains, or the wallpaper, depending upon who tells the story, and he exclaimed, "Oh my god, one of us has to go!"
So Michael Jackson was allowed to take drugs by the barrel so he could sing better and make millions but Sharapova, and all other sports heroes, instantly get fired when caught. Something isn't clicking.
2
Michael Jackson wasn't engaged in a professional endeavor which has rules that govern it by which you have to abide in order to continue in that field.
He was a private citizen who could abuse drugs at will, unless caught of by the law. He was rich, of course, and we already know the rules of law and society don't always work the same for the rich and the non-rich.
Your comparison to Michael Jackson and the world of professional sports, makes no sense whatsoever. Do the rich go to jail for things we common folk often do? No. Does that have anything to with using performance enhancing drugs that are banned in professional sports - no.
He was a private citizen who could abuse drugs at will, unless caught of by the law. He was rich, of course, and we already know the rules of law and society don't always work the same for the rich and the non-rich.
Your comparison to Michael Jackson and the world of professional sports, makes no sense whatsoever. Do the rich go to jail for things we common folk often do? No. Does that have anything to with using performance enhancing drugs that are banned in professional sports - no.
2
It’s unfortunate that anyone, especially healthy young people, are taking medically unnecessary drugs to enhance their performance. And who knows what the long term ramifications are of taking drugs intended for people suffering from heart failure. I pity Maria's choices and the enablers around her.
2
What is the criteria that decides whether a drug or supplement is performance enhancing or not? I have following sports for more then 20 years and find the crusade on drugs to be really unnecessary. People like Dick Pound have misused WADA for their own power. At this rate, pro athletes cannot take anything expect water.
1
In education, we’d call this cheating. If everyone cheated, no one would know anything. In sports, all of these drugs aren’t about enjoying the game and exploring one’s skills, but about making the money. For the kids watching, if mega-millionaire athletes do it and get away with it, pretty hard for their teachers to convince them it’s wrong. Have we all decided that making the money makes trumps all, because everyone I know assumes drugs run rampant in professional sports, including most students. It’s sad to witness the “whatever" shrugs in young people.
15
Faux outrage from the commentariat. Who believes that professional athletes don't go to extraordinary lengths to be extraordinary? All the athletes at the top do stuff to be "great" that would keep you awake at night if your own child were doing it in pursuit of supposed excellence.
Perhaps the same people believe vanishingly thin actresses with unlined faces who claim they achieve that look from a "sensible" diet and yoga? The same people who think bajillionaires deserve all that money because they work hard and are just smarter than the rest of us?
The reality in today's America is that you don't get to the top without cutting ethical corners or going to some kind of extremes. That's the result of our winner-take-all mentality.
Perhaps the same people believe vanishingly thin actresses with unlined faces who claim they achieve that look from a "sensible" diet and yoga? The same people who think bajillionaires deserve all that money because they work hard and are just smarter than the rest of us?
The reality in today's America is that you don't get to the top without cutting ethical corners or going to some kind of extremes. That's the result of our winner-take-all mentality.
3
Many athletes have been cough over the past few weeks using Meldonium or Mildronate, and many more have yet to come foreword. If an athlete is taking a medication, the rules aught to be that they have to list it, as they start taking the medication. In this way, WADA can test it and proper procedures can be followed. For now, she is a suspect and see no reason to take sides. She is banned until this has been revised properly, and that is how it should be.
"Tennis, anyone?"
The new portmanteau for a pill-popping party.
The new portmanteau for a pill-popping party.
2
I think that a lot of the blame for all of these situations where athletes are taking drugs to improve performance rests on the absurdly competitive culture that they and we are a part of. So long as that does not change, and the whole world values winning above anything and everything else, this will always continue to happen. The fault is not in our stars, but in ourselves.
The first thing that struck me about her health was family history of diabetes and her big Sugarpova candy business... Also, women's tennis will be quieter though plenty of screachers left.. I wish her well. IMO her team let her down... Did they get the substance email?
2
We all have our lessons to learn don't we. Ten years of taking a drug. Intention is what matters. Only she knows what her motivations were, though we can guess. Anyway, only aspirin from here on.
This is very unfortunate for Sharapova, and the questions around whether there was a legitimate health reason for her to be using this medication will need to be answered.
I think it is remarkable that she did not deny or try to cover this up. We have all seen the damage that comes from denial with Roger Clemens. People make mistakes, and I think Sharapova will have the opportunity to redeem herself.
I think it is remarkable that she did not deny or try to cover this up. We have all seen the damage that comes from denial with Roger Clemens. People make mistakes, and I think Sharapova will have the opportunity to redeem herself.
2
“I was getting sick very often,” she said. “I had a deficiency in magnesium. I had irregular EKG results, and I had a family history of diabetes and there were signs of diabetes.”
Really? A physician prescribed this drug, which was developed for circulatory
and other cardiac conditions, for pre-diabetes and frequently getting sick? Does it prevent the common cold too? I call boloney.
Really? A physician prescribed this drug, which was developed for circulatory
and other cardiac conditions, for pre-diabetes and frequently getting sick? Does it prevent the common cold too? I call boloney.
3
So Ms Sharapova lives in the U.S. since her teenage years, but when it comes to get a performance enhancing drugs non approved by the FDA, she gets it from her Doctor in Russia. And she wants us to believe that she was taking it for health reason? Pleaaaase.....
2
Baseball, football, cycling, and now tennis... Yet another reason for concluding that professional sports differs from "professional wrestling" only in degree. We only cheapen ourselves by watching a bunch of drugged up millionaires running around chasing a ball. Turn off your televisions, people! Free yourselves, and go play frisbee with your kids.
3
Number 7 in the world...hasn't done a whole heck of a lot of good. What I find really, really sad is that, for women, looks matter more than talent. Not to say she's not talented (and she is certainly number 1 world class in the shrieking department), but she is not (and never will be) even close to the talent and ability of Serena Williams, who is the greatest woman player in any sport in history.
1
I would need to know the dose, the effect of that dose and an expert on the drug to clear up if that dose would make any difference in performance. Many drugs, not cleared in the U.S. are used in Europe and some of those are used for medical reasons. The use here may have been justified medically. I don't believe in denigrating someone without more evidence. That said, it took me a long time to accept that almost all bicyclists likely have cheated in the past prior to more recent drug testing. One reason I was not slamming Lance Armstrong at the time was that I expect that most multiple winners long before him likely benefited from blood doping etc.
If Sharapova has "symptoms of diabetes" then why is one of her companies in the business of selling candy????????!!!!!!!
3
"If was ever going to announce my retirement, it would probably not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with this fairly ugly carpet."
1
An admission is undoubtedly genuine when it comes before getting caught.
Afterward, it is called damage control.
Afterward, it is called damage control.
5
I wonder about whether there may be any long-term effects of this drug. A number of physicians have already spoken out to say that they would never prescribe this drug to any young woman in her childbearing years. And although this makes me squirm, at 18, most women are physically capable of becoming pregnant. I suspect during the investigation, that Doctor who prescribed the Meldonium will be questioned.
1
She was caught. She did her best to make herself look good. Instead of blaming her support team she said, "at the end of the day, everything you do is on you." Then she made a gratuitous remark about the hotel's "ugly carpet." I am sure the manager of that hotel did absolutely everything possible to accommodate her. She just had to trash somebody. Very revealing.
3
Hotels have notoriously ugly carpets. She really was referring how she would retire, in a grander style, than in a room with ugly carpet.
While in some ways I admire her being forthright, there is absolutely no way she was unaware of the drug's illegality. Professional athletes (and their managers) are profoundly aware of the do's and dont's, especially when millions and millions of dollars are on the line. She tried to beat the system and got caught.
21
Sharapova's confession of using banned performance enhancers seems to me to fall in exact line with the recent revelation of the Russian Olympics coaches being found to have 'cheated' in past games by manipulating with both substances and age guidelines. This doesn't surprise me.
What does help Sharapova's cause is that she was brave enough to stand up in public and admit her role. Bravo for her.
What does help Sharapova's cause is that she was brave enough to stand up in public and admit her role. Bravo for her.
2
Unfortunately this is only the tip of the iceberg. The cost of athletic performance is too high and starts at an early age. Young outstanding athletes get preferential treatment staring at a very early age. They get full scholarships to top colleges while scholastic achievers are lucky to just get into these colleges let alone get a full ride. Olympic athletes know that there is a very big personal financial difference between gold and silver medals, so the temptation to cheat with performance enhancement drugs is very high.
Lance Armstrong's excuse is that everyone was doing it so he needed to also. Poor excuse, but probably closer to the truth.
The more pressing problem that these high profile athletes present is that they are basically saying to the youth of this country that the only way you can get on top and stay on top is with something more than just hard work and diligent practice. The example that these athletes set is more damaging than just the financial losses that they may suffer.
Lance Armstrong's excuse is that everyone was doing it so he needed to also. Poor excuse, but probably closer to the truth.
The more pressing problem that these high profile athletes present is that they are basically saying to the youth of this country that the only way you can get on top and stay on top is with something more than just hard work and diligent practice. The example that these athletes set is more damaging than just the financial losses that they may suffer.
2
Her PR team is certainly first class, down to having her touch her heart when she mentioned playing the "game I love" since age 4. All very scripted and designed for 1 purpose, for her to receive the least possible penalty. There are numerous athletes who have tested positive for Meldonium, most from Russia. Are we to believe that all of these world class athletes suffer from serious heart conditions - the 'real' purpose for which this drug is prescribed? Meldonium was banned for a reason. It's a PED that allows athletes to recover more quickly. It doesn't treat the "flu" or "diabetes", which Sharapova doesn't have. What she does have, and is known for, is an insatiable desire to win - apparently at any cost. She's been taking this drug for its performance enhancing effects and got caught. This should be "good by Maria", but because she's a top athlete, and the women's tour needs her to fill seats, she'll get a slap on the wrist. On the up side, perhaps all the orgasmic noise she makes on the court is a side effect of the heart/flu/diabetes/all purpose Meldonium and upon her inevitable return, we will hear much less from poor, innocent little Maria.
6
Yep, the desire to win and also be skinny - remember the comments of the Russian tennis players regarding Serena's physique. Anything that reveals the Russian athletes to be the cheaters that they are is good news in my book. I don't feel bad for her.
Here is another instance where we (commenters) who may not be know-nothings know too little and yet hold forth with arrogance.
1
Isn't it time we boycotted companies that use our athletes as pawns in their marketing schemes? Money has made sports disgusting. Just watch Viagra ads with your 14 year old grandson. Shame on Maria who had it all. Now she can retire so sad about her greed, but aceing all the way to the bank.
Let's not be fooled by those tears. She was hardly that naive.
Punish her and ban her from the Olympic Games. Then, strip her of sponsorship as well. She is already very, very rich. She can afford to loose revenue and a few tournament rounds.
Punish her and ban her from the Olympic Games. Then, strip her of sponsorship as well. She is already very, very rich. She can afford to loose revenue and a few tournament rounds.
4
a sports outsider thought: why don't we let athletes take whatever they want instead of playing the pharmaceutical cat and mouse game? Yes, some would wreck their bodies in return for the million dollar purses, put they do so anyway by having their brains slammed into slush when they box or play football and other so called games. Or does anyone believe the bulging muscles of these men and women are just a gift of mother nature? Let them make their deals with the devil, just like we let wall streeters play the high stake game. Oh wait, those don't actually risk anything...
I find it hard to believe that a finely-tuned athlete such as Ms Sharapova would not have noticed increased stamina once she began this somewhat suspect regimen. This smacks more to me of, look, the anti-doping agencies are monitoring this but it's still legal, let's use it while we can.
I'm not a fan of Ms. Sharapova because of her on-court behavior (shrieking when she hits the ball and her habit of turning her back on the servers until she's ready to play the next point) but she is an excellent player. This casts a pall over everything she has accomplished since 2006.
I'm not a fan of Ms. Sharapova because of her on-court behavior (shrieking when she hits the ball and her habit of turning her back on the servers until she's ready to play the next point) but she is an excellent player. This casts a pall over everything she has accomplished since 2006.
4
This is just the tip of iceberg. Many skeletons are sure to fall off the cupboards if only people that matter carry out serious and sincere investigations after taking samples as frequently as possible.
Big money, 24 X 7 media coverage, fans' unlimited adulation, instant fame and accessibility to big shots that matter make sportspersons spoilsport.
Big money, 24 X 7 media coverage, fans' unlimited adulation, instant fame and accessibility to big shots that matter make sportspersons spoilsport.
It's good that so many people with advanced training in pharmacology at The University of Google were able to take time from their medical research and help us understand by commenting here.
1
Why would an elite athlete be taking such a drug for "health issues?" Isn't part of being an elite athlete is having exemplary health? It strikes me as odd that Maria Sharapova would need to take, for almost a decade, a drug that would be prescribed for people who suffer from serious cardiac and/or circulatory ailments. To me, it's clear that the drug was being taken for its obvious performing enhancing benefits. This only goes to prove that if a drug is not on the banned list, and it is a performing enhancing drug of some kind, athletes are taking it and that almost all, if not all, elite athletes are probably taking something they shouldn't be taking.
3
I don't know a single drug which is not supposed to enhance performance of our body. I don't know a single food which is not supposed to enhance performance of my body.
The sport should be clear of disabled athletes. If athlete on any sort of medication it should be banned off any competition.
The sport should be clear of disabled athletes. If athlete on any sort of medication it should be banned off any competition.
1
We will never know how many tennis players were taking this drug for it's performance enhancing capabilities before it was banned. There are a lot of drugs that were developed for one malady and it turned out to in another.
Viagra was being developed for hypertension but turned out to induce erections.
Viagra was being developed for hypertension but turned out to induce erections.
With the number of people who make up the team of her handlers and trainers, it is impossible to believe that it was just up to her to "click" on an attachment. They took the chance that it wouldn't get tested and lost. She's doing the stand up thing to acknowledge the test and get out front of it but there is nothing believable about her explanation of missing the attachment. The banning of substances is a farce...the people who are good at getting ahead of the tests can still use substances until the tests catch up. It's a stupid cat and mouse game.
14
When Serena had a viral fever at Wimbledon a few years ago and seemed disoriented when trying to pick up a ball, people immediately said she was on drugs. No investigation required. Now, Maria announces she failed a drug test, and people are explaining why it is not a big deal, it is the system at fault.
These are the same people who say there is no racism in the world
These are the same people who say there is no racism in the world
7
Amen! This mindset is why Sarapova is the highest paid athlete without actually being the best athlete in her field even on preformance enhancing drugs.
Well she can now retire and devote her full attention to promoting her candy company Sugarpova, where years from now with childhood diabetes devastating America's youth, she can claim "Wow, there is sugar in this stuff--I had no idea it was bad for you!"
3
What I want to know is Meldonium is a safe alternative for Renexa? Why is it banned here? Would I be "guilty" of doping if tested?
1
The Hotel was probably thrilled that they would receive the publicity of having a major sport star staying there; I would have loved to have seen managements faces when she mentioned the "fairly ugly rugs. Lol!
I would hope that if the drug was previously allowed, is used as a med for real physical ailments, and in the dosage used does not enhance performance--she would be given a light sentence. She evidently did not attempt to mask the drug usage. There should not be a zero tolerance, one-size-fits-all policy where everyone receives the same penalty. We are all capable of thought, and can differentiate the cheaters from the foolish. She made a foolish mistake, not paying closer attention to the banned lists.
I would hope that if the drug was previously allowed, is used as a med for real physical ailments, and in the dosage used does not enhance performance--she would be given a light sentence. She evidently did not attempt to mask the drug usage. There should not be a zero tolerance, one-size-fits-all policy where everyone receives the same penalty. We are all capable of thought, and can differentiate the cheaters from the foolish. She made a foolish mistake, not paying closer attention to the banned lists.
4
She didn't actually fail the drug test. The tennis officials deduced she was taking the drug, because one of the side effects is SHRIEKING!!!
2
Who really cares? Let athletes do what they want. If they want to take a drug, let them take it. And if others want to ruin their long term health prospects by dumping chemicals in their bodies, so be it. It's just show business. It's just about money. Chemicals, concussions, contracts - all crazy. Who cares?
1
I don't understand why picking on her for being blonde and pretty is any different than picking on someone for the color of their skin. I think Maria screwed up here but do we really have to bring her looks into the story?
1
Thank you for taking responsibility. These days, it seems no one else ever does.
2
Taking responsibility would require admitting taking the drug to enhance athletic performance.
1
She didn't take responsibility! She got caught and couldn't deny it......Typical Russian way!
1
I'm sure athletes are very busy people but it seems hard to believe that staying on top of that banned substance list wouldn't be a top priority.
3
The world’s highest-paid female athlete is a Cheater; just another typical success story here in America - WIN AT ALL COSTS ! Money can never replace integrity. Take note Tom Brady.
3
Most of the people responding to this article seem to be very judgmental and quite envious of her accomplishments (and looks).
Here is my view on this story.
You are a professional athlete. You get up every morning at 5-6 and have the healthy breakfast we see in magazines. You go to the gym,court,stadium and you work out for the most part of the day.In the evening you might be expected to attend an event,smile and be 'fresh' looking . Next day same repeats,but you are flying across the globe for a tournament. You are exposed to different climate,different food,different bacteria. Regardless all these, you are expected to be your 150%,because you are a 'professional' athlete and you are paid to do that. You have no time to have a flu or nausea. You have no time to adapt (much) to the new surroundings. Injuries - if you don't have black eye or broken bone NO ONE feels sorry for you,because you are paid to smile.
I can totally see how and why she kept taking medicine that boosted her health. She felt a bit uneasy and worried a flu is on its way and pops a pill. We ALL have done that . If that is indeed her case and the results mention the fact the amount was not as if she was taking it as performance-enhancer.
If case is proven otherwise I will be indeed very upset ...
Here is my view on this story.
You are a professional athlete. You get up every morning at 5-6 and have the healthy breakfast we see in magazines. You go to the gym,court,stadium and you work out for the most part of the day.In the evening you might be expected to attend an event,smile and be 'fresh' looking . Next day same repeats,but you are flying across the globe for a tournament. You are exposed to different climate,different food,different bacteria. Regardless all these, you are expected to be your 150%,because you are a 'professional' athlete and you are paid to do that. You have no time to have a flu or nausea. You have no time to adapt (much) to the new surroundings. Injuries - if you don't have black eye or broken bone NO ONE feels sorry for you,because you are paid to smile.
I can totally see how and why she kept taking medicine that boosted her health. She felt a bit uneasy and worried a flu is on its way and pops a pill. We ALL have done that . If that is indeed her case and the results mention the fact the amount was not as if she was taking it as performance-enhancer.
If case is proven otherwise I will be indeed very upset ...
2
She's beautiful, blonde and blue-eyed with legs up to her chin. She's raking in millions off court, totally out of proportion to her on court performances.
So many applause her forthrightness by accepting her responsibility. But, there's one caveat or inconvenient truth that many are missing...
"Sharapova indicated she continued to take the drug while regularly checking the list through the years to confirm that it was not prohibited."
Translation she new of its potential to be listed as a banned drug, which is foreknowledge and therefore she's a liar and cheat, otherwise, she wouldn't have been checking the list.
So many applause her forthrightness by accepting her responsibility. But, there's one caveat or inconvenient truth that many are missing...
"Sharapova indicated she continued to take the drug while regularly checking the list through the years to confirm that it was not prohibited."
Translation she new of its potential to be listed as a banned drug, which is foreknowledge and therefore she's a liar and cheat, otherwise, she wouldn't have been checking the list.
5
she was better at 17 yo
Lieutenant Joe Kenda says, "If you're going to lie, at least be good at it." Pretty dumb to continue taking the stuff if she actually realized that it had been banned, so it probably was indeed an oversight. However, her explanation for WHY she was taking it strains credulity. "My family doctor prescribed it." The drug isn't approved to be sold in the US, or, for that mater, in the EU. It's sold only in Latvia, where it is made (and is one of Latvia's most valuable exports), and in a small number of Eastern Block countries. Maria is a resident of Florida. Is she saying that she has a family doctor in Riga? Or Minsk? "It was prescribed because I have a history of diabetes in my family." The use of this stuff for diabetes is limited, because its efficacy in that regard is wholly-unproven. It is in no way a first line drug for diabetes, and hardly a choice for people with a "family history" of it. Puh-leese. What it apparently has been demonstrated to do somewhat-effectively is to help people recover from strenuous exercise. And the expanding use of it for that purpose is why the Anti-Doping egency banned it. So what quacks like a duck is that she was taking it for the reason that every other pro athlete who was taking it was taking it: a competitive advantage. Which was allowed until recently. Question: if she is taking it daily, is it even LEGAL to POSSESS in the US, where she spends most of her time?
8
She made a mistake, inadvertently, give her a penalty and move on. By the way, since Tag Huer dropped her immediately, I wont be buying their products in a hurry. Nothing like jumping ship after she has made you millions.
3
Sponsors are dropping her because they are well positioned to understand the implausibility of the excuses that have been offered.
1
Glad that she is not dogging her responsibility while badmouthing anti-doping officials like many other frauds. Obviously the "family doctor" giving her a drug -made for severe heart disease and misused for performance-enhancing- for the last decade under the covert of treating "flu" is a dubious story to say the least...
6
The excuses athletes make when caught doping are priceless. From vanishing twins, EPO for their pets to tainted beef.
That Sharapova took this drug for a medical condition is about as likely that she will win the US Open in golf. She has been based in US for years. If she had a heart condition requiring treatment she would not have relied on a drug developed in Latvia. She would have seen cardiac experts in the US. I would bet her shoulder injury was treated by leading orthopedic surgeons based in Western Europe or US. Why approach a potentially life threatening condition differently.
The medical story and contrition is a smoke screen created by her machinery of advisors, lawyers and PR people. The story is simply Sharapova took this PED, like many other athletes, to get an advantage. What is amazing is that all her support staff missed it being put on the banned list. Sharapova doesn't check for that. She pays others to take care of this. Talk about a $$$$$ mistake.
That Sharapova took this drug for a medical condition is about as likely that she will win the US Open in golf. She has been based in US for years. If she had a heart condition requiring treatment she would not have relied on a drug developed in Latvia. She would have seen cardiac experts in the US. I would bet her shoulder injury was treated by leading orthopedic surgeons based in Western Europe or US. Why approach a potentially life threatening condition differently.
The medical story and contrition is a smoke screen created by her machinery of advisors, lawyers and PR people. The story is simply Sharapova took this PED, like many other athletes, to get an advantage. What is amazing is that all her support staff missed it being put on the banned list. Sharapova doesn't check for that. She pays others to take care of this. Talk about a $$$$$ mistake.
11
In case you haven't realize Latvia is in Europe (both EU and NATO) and Latvia have lower infant mortality rate than the US. It is high by European standards but lower than America.
She is one of the highest paid athletes in the world and as a result has a large team (trainer, nutritionist, coach, physician, etc.), and she wants everyone to believe no one alerted her that this substance was banned. She knew what she was doing and simply got caught. Had this been one of the Williams sisters, no one would be giving them he benefit of the doubt. Maria is a cheater and a disgrace to the sport. This is beyond a little WHITE lie.
6
Wow, I was expecting a Black Lives Matters tag at the end of your message. Perhaps keep your racism checked next time.
They are never sorry for cheating until caught.
Same as Lance, and Bonds, etc.etc.
Same as Lance, and Bonds, etc.etc.
11
shes not sorry
shes reading from her pr agents notice
shes reading from her pr agents notice
1
Thank you Serena, your are the best in the sports but underpaid compare to this cheater who will never reach your accomplishments.This called white privilege.
1
you think serena doesnt juice ?
she looks like an nfl tackle
but thats all natural ?
she looks like an nfl tackle
but thats all natural ?
It is quite doubtful since she has a massive support team whereas the job to check the drug list falls down upon herself. But whatever the fact is, she made a good and impressive speech, which easily raises people's compassion on her.
I don't believe her.
8
Ironic that Sharapova would be worried about diabetes while (shamefully, I feel) promoting her own line of candy, Sugarpova, to children. Pending further investigation, the "truth," widely shared among tennis aficionados, is that while she was a fierce competitor, she was never a prime example of sportsmanship in the game, shunning other players, refusing WTA efforts to control crowd-displeasing "shrieking," etc. I suspect this revelation surprises few women on the tour and angers many.
8
This is sad, and I'm sure Maria is well enough advised that she knew the risk she was taking. I've always admired her dedication to tennis, through a series of injuries, despite the fact that she makes a great deal of money from endorsements, and probably would have, even if she'd quit playing. Now, both her career and her endorsements are probably over.
1
Amazing. Who would have thought so many top athletes would have dodgy hearts that need this drug. Or maybe there was some other reason they were taking it.
5
Speaking of being accused of taking illegal drugs.....while hospitalized in France for a colonoscopy, I received a false positive blood test for methamphetamine as a result of taking numerous vitamin supplements. The most common false positive test is for meth since so many substances sold without a prescription test similarly to meth.
The head nurse came into my room and with a raised voice, pointed her finger at me and accused me of taking meth. I was shocked and denied that I had taken "speed" ever in my life. The sheer incompetence of an experienced nurse who was not aware of this false positive issue for meth was disconcerting.
The French national health care system is rated the best in the world. Who was it that said "all hospitals have clay feet".
The head nurse came into my room and with a raised voice, pointed her finger at me and accused me of taking meth. I was shocked and denied that I had taken "speed" ever in my life. The sheer incompetence of an experienced nurse who was not aware of this false positive issue for meth was disconcerting.
The French national health care system is rated the best in the world. Who was it that said "all hospitals have clay feet".
1
Everyone loves Maria and appreciates her forthright, non defensive manner. Refreshing after so many athletes blame everyone else. That said, Meldonium is the performance enhancing drug of choice for eastern European athletes and is considered unsafe by the FDA. So why would her physician prescribe it? Perhaps she has been using it all along to enhance her performance. This is serious and love her or not, there may only be a thin line separating her from Lance Armstrong.
3
Irrespective of the blame game, and with the information available on drug testing protocol, it is highly likely Maria was tested upwards of 40 times over the last ten years. If the WTA drug tsars can casually send her a letter saying she has tested positive, then surely there is some institutional responsibility on behalf of those tsars to directly inform a player that, "hey, your doping results over the years indicate that you regularly use drug X, we wish to inform you that effective on date Y, this drug will be considered performing enhancing and added to the list of banned substances." It matters not what the drug in question is called. The tests reveal chemical compounds, not brand names. And if someone's been using it, give them a heads up. Ambiguity removed, Sounds like a positive approach.
1
It was banned on January 1 -- yes, just over two months ago. Sure it's a mistake, but it's an even bigger one by tennis by not giving her a slap on the wrist and giving her a short suspension.
If she were seen to be clearly and systematically doping, then I can see banning her for life, but in tennis she is as recognizable as her hair brush, then two ball drop serve routine.
Your loss tennis.
If she were seen to be clearly and systematically doping, then I can see banning her for life, but in tennis she is as recognizable as her hair brush, then two ball drop serve routine.
Your loss tennis.
It's a drug that can also help mask the use of other PEDs, namely EPO.
1
Pro sports is not religion, but entertainment.
Who cares what these people take?
Should Tom Cruise be banned from movies if he uses a stunt double for some Mission Impossible scenes?
Who cares what these people take?
Should Tom Cruise be banned from movies if he uses a stunt double for some Mission Impossible scenes?
3
oh no, it is very much a religion for some people and just as we like to tear down "false gods" people love tearing others down.
Unfortunately, in really popular sports (with big money involved) all pro sportspeople dope (and many non-pro). The public live in la-la land, because it's so beautiful and comforting. But reality is reality.
2
As of Jan 1st 2016 meldonium was banned. Less than one month later at Australian Open Maria detected positive for meldonium.
I'm no doctor but after having taken the substance for 10 years I would expect there be residual traces of meldonium in Maria Sharapova's body (!?)
I'm no doctor but after having taken the substance for 10 years I would expect there be residual traces of meldonium in Maria Sharapova's body (!?)
A key question of fact is whether she was prescribed this drug by her family doctor rather than a doctor involved in sports. The doctors that get caught in doping scandals are not normally family doctors. If she is telling the truth about her medical history, this is about failing in her responsibility to keep up to date on checking her prescriptions for medical conditions against the latest list of banned drugs rather than cheating. The fact that Wada noticed that athletes where using the drug to help performance is grounds for skepticism but the drug is used for heart problems in her country. If her family doctor is in the US her story collapses since the drug is not prescribed there.
It would seem that any prudent athlete should take the latest list of banned drugs to their pharmacist to see if there is a problem since drugs can have different names. If there is a problem they can see if their doctor can prescribe something else or they can ask for an exemption. There should be a penalty for failing to do this but it should not be treated as harshly as cheating.
It would seem that any prudent athlete should take the latest list of banned drugs to their pharmacist to see if there is a problem since drugs can have different names. If there is a problem they can see if their doctor can prescribe something else or they can ask for an exemption. There should be a penalty for failing to do this but it should not be treated as harshly as cheating.
A real class act. Bravo Maria Sharapova. Nike should be standing behind her. Any organization should be proud to have such an articulate spokesperson taking responsibility for their own actions.
15
Yes, very nice. It is like stealing a shop and then saying you are honest. She made a fortune while using enhancing drugs. What's the honor in it?
Terrible, terrible example. Cheat and then apologize.
She can keep her money and become a model, if anyone will hire her.
Terrible, terrible example. Cheat and then apologize.
She can keep her money and become a model, if anyone will hire her.
3
For cheating? Really?
3
Class act? Come on.
The excuses being made for this cheater are very creative. Something tells me that if Serena admitted to taking aspirin, there would be a Senate investigation.
Membership does have it's White privilege.
Membership does have it's White privilege.
17
Culprit or not she will be fine and unpunished, she is a white, blonde woman anyway.
2
Will we have a self-righteous Congressional investigation of this the way there was one about baseball? Will Sharapova be treated the same way as McGwire, Bonds, and Sosa? Will the Cubs win the Series this year?
1
She made an oversight here, taking a drug for health reasons.
Where is the story? She deserves no fine and if the drug is taken at the recommended dosage, no crime has been committed.
Cut her a break. She's been a great advocate for women's tennis.
Where is the story? She deserves no fine and if the drug is taken at the recommended dosage, no crime has been committed.
Cut her a break. She's been a great advocate for women's tennis.
So Ms Sharapova lives in the U.S. since her teenage years, but when it comes to get a performance enhancing drugs non approved by the FDA, she gets it from her Doctor in Russia. And she wants us to believe that she was taking it for health reason? Pleaaaase....
16
Apparently, a Wealthy Ms Sharapova with a Medical Team at her disposal couldn't find a drug similar to Meldonium but without performance enhancing capability in the U.S. or Canada?
She is been cheating for the last 10 years and has to be banned for Life. She deserved the same treatment as Lance Armstrong.
Admitting her mistake doesn't make it right. She won tournaments while using enhancing performance drugs. What about the people she played against?
She is been cheating for the last 10 years and has to be banned for Life. She deserved the same treatment as Lance Armstrong.
Admitting her mistake doesn't make it right. She won tournaments while using enhancing performance drugs. What about the people she played against?
1
She's been 21 years living in the United States, but represents Russia in International competition. Let's give her spot here to a law abiding citizen of a Latin American nation who wants to be a law abiding U.S. Citizen. She can get her illegally prescribed drugs along with the entire Russian track team over in her home country of Russia.
3
“Maria was completely unaware there was any performance-enhancing capabilities to it whatsoever,” Haggerty said. “All the things, the medical conditions she was being treated for with this drug, had nothing to do with enhancing her performance. It had to do with her getting her health to a normal baseline.”
Who believes this? It is a good thing she is asking for an apology, but she should tell the truth and not try to mask it as a health related issue. Haggerty is not helping her case at all!
And, of course, the doubt arises: If this tennis star is taking this, how many more are, and how many other performance enhancing drugs are being consumed "for health purposes?"
Who believes this? It is a good thing she is asking for an apology, but she should tell the truth and not try to mask it as a health related issue. Haggerty is not helping her case at all!
And, of course, the doubt arises: If this tennis star is taking this, how many more are, and how many other performance enhancing drugs are being consumed "for health purposes?"
3
Often when a white person is involved in something horrid - whether hijacking and crashing a passenger-filled aircraft, going on mass shooting, or (less horrid) cheating with performance enhancing drug - folks are quick to find excuses. By the time they are done spinning the story, the perpetrators have become victims. Man is truly tribal.
But no matter. Those who know they'd never be given the benefit of doubt end up working much harder. And they are much the happier for it, knowing that they overcame in spite of all obstacles.
Just close our eyes and imagine if this had been Serena...
But no matter. Those who know they'd never be given the benefit of doubt end up working much harder. And they are much the happier for it, knowing that they overcame in spite of all obstacles.
Just close our eyes and imagine if this had been Serena...
16
If the drug wasn't banned until 2016, it seems irrelevant that she was taking it for ten years. Three weeks after the ban was in force, she tested positive. Banned means banned, but there ought to be some perspective and some measure in what "penalty" is applied in a case like this. It's not clear to me that the nature of the drug or the dosage she was taking would give a more significant competitive advantage than any number of supplements that are not banned.
19
There is absolutely no reason she should have to stand up there and discuss her medical issues with anyone. If this is a recently banned substance and her medical team let her down by not informing her or changing her medication, it is they who should be blamed. She clearly has the final responsibility on what she puts in her body, but she's an athlete not a doctor, and can't be expected to know pharmacological intricacies.
5
The substance is banned because it gives the athlete a competitive advantage. Whether it makes her stronger, faster, or gives her more endurance, she surely knows. Before it was banned, it was merely unfair. Once it is banned it is illegal. But either way, victory in a pill is seedy and Sharapova knew it the first time she popped one of these pills.
4
Nobody is asking her to know "pharmacological intricacies." They are asking her to read her emails and know the rules of her sport.
4
All she had to do was to click the email link. Personal and professional responsibility.
2
Looks like her decade long(!) advantage has finally been identified as a performance enhancing drug. Our governing bodies are so far behind the athletes..
I agree with others, this calls into question how great of a player she really is. And I doubt her claims that she used a drug for heart patients (which increase blood flow to the heart) because she was getting sick often.
I agree with others, this calls into question how great of a player she really is. And I doubt her claims that she used a drug for heart patients (which increase blood flow to the heart) because she was getting sick often.
17
Please go back and read the article. She apparently didn't take enough to benefit by performance enhancement.
However it seems like this has been detectable in her system for years and it's always been ok. Suddenly it's not and she's guilty for not changing her regime to keep up with anti- doping policies. What a shame and what a dilemma.
It's very difficult to trust anybody or anything any more. Police, politicians, Catholic priests, the NFL, the media, Tom Brady, Lance Armstrong, soccer, Hillary, Trump, etc., etc. What's left? I play tennis, I don't watch that any more either. There are still people you can count on and believe in, but not many of them are rich or famous, and almost none of them are promoting a product.
7
Say what you will--loved the last line.
12
professional athlete, albeit one on 'medication' who chose not to open and read through the updated list of banned substance sent her by the officials?!? Who are we kidding?!
16
For 10 years Sharpova has been taking the newly banned drug. In future no drugs should be allowed other than the ones needed for any swelling or pain or there should be a public disclosure of all the drugs taken. There should be a hefty fine for taking the drug after it was banned or she should donate to some humanitarian causes like Doctors without borders or Red Cross. or any other.
3
Maria Sharapova is an amazingly gifted athlete and great tennis champion; Meldonium be damned. Unfortunately for her, no pill yet known to man can help her beat Serena!
10
Serena Williams is perhaps not the best comparison to make.
Maria isn't gifted. She is stiff as a board and not a true athlete who screams on court like someone with no class.
1
I Have The Solution!
Create a two tiered system. One allows for any enhancement for performance. We would be riveted as athletes accomplish amazing, stupefying things. It might be accomplished with spontaneous combustions of the athlete and-or serious explosions of bodies with spectators washed in gore. Ah, but it would be so worth it to see some athlete accomplish, say, a forty foot pole vault: "No body parts were found after Mr. Bouillabaisse executed his vault, only a brilliant flash followed by a crimson mist was witnessed".
A home run in twenty seconds and a cloud of dirt obscuring all views.
A pass unintentionally out of the stadium. (Or a misdirected pass results in a six foot crater.)
Holes in one? How about into the next county?
A nonstop marathon from Pensacola to Anchorage, completed in only one week. Speeding tickets were routinely ignored, however all participants died shortly upon arrival.
A basketball explodes against the backboard. A slam-dunk recurring every ten seconds.
A Hockey puck not just into the goal, but through the goalie.
Then just have a boring old tier of drug free athletics, trying to push the envelope that evolution has set for us all.
Create a two tiered system. One allows for any enhancement for performance. We would be riveted as athletes accomplish amazing, stupefying things. It might be accomplished with spontaneous combustions of the athlete and-or serious explosions of bodies with spectators washed in gore. Ah, but it would be so worth it to see some athlete accomplish, say, a forty foot pole vault: "No body parts were found after Mr. Bouillabaisse executed his vault, only a brilliant flash followed by a crimson mist was witnessed".
A home run in twenty seconds and a cloud of dirt obscuring all views.
A pass unintentionally out of the stadium. (Or a misdirected pass results in a six foot crater.)
Holes in one? How about into the next county?
A nonstop marathon from Pensacola to Anchorage, completed in only one week. Speeding tickets were routinely ignored, however all participants died shortly upon arrival.
A basketball explodes against the backboard. A slam-dunk recurring every ten seconds.
A Hockey puck not just into the goal, but through the goalie.
Then just have a boring old tier of drug free athletics, trying to push the envelope that evolution has set for us all.
9
I did find her statement of 'contrition' to be honest:
1. She does not state when she determined that the substance was banned.
2. She states that she made a 'mistake'. It is unclear what the 'mistake' is"
a. that she deliberately took the substance after she found out that it was illegal or,
b. that she deliberately took the substance not knowing that it was illegal.
or,
c. that she deliberately took the substance although she had not medical reason to do so to and knowing that it was banned and with the purpose of enhancing her performance.
RAZ
1. She does not state when she determined that the substance was banned.
2. She states that she made a 'mistake'. It is unclear what the 'mistake' is"
a. that she deliberately took the substance after she found out that it was illegal or,
b. that she deliberately took the substance not knowing that it was illegal.
or,
c. that she deliberately took the substance although she had not medical reason to do so to and knowing that it was banned and with the purpose of enhancing her performance.
RAZ
2
I'm no Sharapova fan; but this is some kind of Mickey Mouse system. An email? That's how you deal with it? You don't even require a receipt for the email with the list in the body of the email so you can see if they actually read it? They should make the players sign a form (like an affidavit) with the list of drugs saying they are not using them and update it every year. She's been using this for 10 years and they just change the status of the drug? I know Russia isn't the most trustworthy when it comes to sports and drugs; but this seems ridiculous.
15
It is the athlete's responsibility to know what is and is not allowed, full stop. Its up to them to read the information provided, no one should force them but they and their doctors ignore it at their own risk. As a world-famous professional tennis player worth millions in sponsorship, she has a team and they knew exactly what they were doing. Please.
1
How did Russia get into this narrative? I know we love to hate our enemies and all that but it gets old fast. There must be a way to work North Korea and Iran into this, and I am sure Putin must have had something to with it too.
But I think you understand that an email receipt is a very silly technical detail to grasp on as some factor in this "misunderstanding". Just as silly as the excuse that a world-class athlete with a team of professionals and multi-million dollar contracts would have to click-through an email message to stay on the legal side of her profession.
But I think you understand that an email receipt is a very silly technical detail to grasp on as some factor in this "misunderstanding". Just as silly as the excuse that a world-class athlete with a team of professionals and multi-million dollar contracts would have to click-through an email message to stay on the legal side of her profession.
1
Just look at her posture and facial expression -- it screams embarrassment. I wonder what her heart condition is/was all these years, it was more likely a need for oxygen infusion.
6
Actually it is not uncommon to see heart disease in ultra aerobically trained gigantic athletes.
Most comments miss the main point. For whatever reason, Sharapova has been taking a performance enhancing drugs for years. However recently the drug was banned and however well-intentioned she may be, the fact remains that she has had an unfair competitive advantage for much of her career. That's enough to call into question her accomplishments, which should be marked with the proverbial asterisk.
126
She was smart to step up publicly, but her admission was carefully phrased to IMPLY that she took it solely for medical reasons, but she doesn't directly assert that to be the facts. Are we getting so inured to the idea that successful athletes use performance enhancing drugs that we do assume everyone uses them -- and excuse one after another?
1
If the drug was not banned, then you cannot say she "had an unfair competitive advantage for much of her career." You are basically saying she cheated by doing something that wasn't against the rules. Who knows how many other athletes out there are taking medications that aren't banned. If those medications become banned at some point, does that mean they were all cheating all those years when they were doing something they were told they were allowed to do? Your point is quite simply incoherent.
2
What if it turns out that she was taking it for medical reasons while many other top tennis players were taking it solely for performance enhancement that was legal at the time? After all WADA banned the drug because it was turning up in the urine of so many top athletes.
Wow, so many MD’s in the NYT reading audience who have examined Ms. Sharpova personally and can assess her medical reasons for taking meldonium to speak with such authority! So many psychotherapists who have examined her deepest thoughts and motivations!
The arm-chair experts are certain that she must be intentionally cheating because, how could she not have known the drug was just banned? But in fact, that is exactly the best argument in her defense. If she was aware of a ban in 2016 of a substance that she was legally using previously, then why would a player at her level risk her career by continuing to use a drug whose performance-enhancing effectiveness is still unproven, when she knows that she will be tested for it?
Maybe we all don’t know as much as we want to think we know.
The arm-chair experts are certain that she must be intentionally cheating because, how could she not have known the drug was just banned? But in fact, that is exactly the best argument in her defense. If she was aware of a ban in 2016 of a substance that she was legally using previously, then why would a player at her level risk her career by continuing to use a drug whose performance-enhancing effectiveness is still unproven, when she knows that she will be tested for it?
Maybe we all don’t know as much as we want to think we know.
8
For Serena it would be different though?
10
Why is a U.S. resident (since age 7) under the care of a Russian family physician who is prescribing a medication not approved by the FDA?
Nice damage control. But I'm not buying it.
Nice damage control. But I'm not buying it.
How?
The medication she was taking is supposed to be used in patients with heart failure, to improve blood flow to the heart. So using it for the vague complaints of "getting sick a lot" and for a family history of diabetes seems an "off label" use at best. Does a generally healthy elite athlete need to improve blood flow to her heart? Only if she's trying to game the system.
22
I guess I have been very naive to believe that tennis players do not dope or fix matches. All sports are tarred with the same brush.
6
I'm no fan of Sharapova but it's obvious to me that she wasn't trying to cheat. She's been taking the drug for ten years for her medical conditions, and passing all of her in and out of competition drug tests. On January first of 2016 it was added to the banned substance list which she neglected to check--probably because for the last ten years it had been acceptable, and she wrongly assumed that was still the case. Her mistake.
The irony is that if she had checked the new list, and saw her drug now on it, she could've applied for a medical exemption since many medicines with legitimate medical purposes due to certain ingredients are on the banned list. For example if you take the cold medicine Sudafed, some of it's ingredients have to been shown to enhance performance and are prohibited. She could've made her case, and either had it granted, or not allowed, and told to find another medication for her health issues. Either way she wouldn't be in the predicament that she is in now.
The pro players have to let the tour know their whereabouts 24 hours a day, in and out of competition, so there can be random testing, and are tested after every match. You'd have to be crazy to try and cheat under those circumstances, and certainly Sharapova wouldn't knowingly take a banned substance during the Australian Open where she knew she was going to be tested.
I don't believe she was cheating, and am certain she'll receive a small suspension like Marin Cilic got.
The irony is that if she had checked the new list, and saw her drug now on it, she could've applied for a medical exemption since many medicines with legitimate medical purposes due to certain ingredients are on the banned list. For example if you take the cold medicine Sudafed, some of it's ingredients have to been shown to enhance performance and are prohibited. She could've made her case, and either had it granted, or not allowed, and told to find another medication for her health issues. Either way she wouldn't be in the predicament that she is in now.
The pro players have to let the tour know their whereabouts 24 hours a day, in and out of competition, so there can be random testing, and are tested after every match. You'd have to be crazy to try and cheat under those circumstances, and certainly Sharapova wouldn't knowingly take a banned substance during the Australian Open where she knew she was going to be tested.
I don't believe she was cheating, and am certain she'll receive a small suspension like Marin Cilic got.
4
I'm not sure where you heard that pro players are tested after every match but it's categorically false and far less difficult than you'd think to anticipate tests when they do happen. I have worked in and around the professional game for 15 years and if you had any clue what sort of performance enhancing substances were taken, banned or not, your head would spin.
6
If the amount she was taking was not at a level that would indicate she was using it in an effort to improve her physical performance then this seems like a dumb but honest oversight/mistake. If however, the amount prescribed and used and in her system at the time of the drug test, then, the glove looks to fit, so one can't acquit, no?
4
Ms. Sharapova response strains credulity on a number of fronts. Seriously. If is fact she looks the drug in question for the reasons she stated, all she had to do is provide backup information from and a Board Certified Cardiologist and/or Endocrinologist. Why would you have a family physician prescribe this particular medication after not been physiologically diagnosed with either Diabetes or Irregular Cardiac function by the aforementioned specialists. Finally, while is perfectly fine to have a Russian physician be your primary care physician, for a person who lives in the United States, seems a bit odd as well. The drug in question when utilized by persons not tacitly suffering from neither a Cardiac nor Endocronoligical health problem certainly has a advantage as has been stated, the drug does increase physiological performance. I have nothing against Ms. Sharapova, but her rationale is quite frankly nonsense. If you have a legitimate medical excuse, produce the medical documentation that supports your claim. We (most of us) are not that gullible. Nothing personal, but there are a lot of high performing Tennis professionals that work just as hard (Federer, Djokovic, Williams, et.al) that have never had this issue and consistently test clean.
I very much like that she came out ASAP and admitted everything. Most of the other athletes who are caught start off denying everything and blaming others. I hope she can come back and play like A-Rod did. So we can see what her talent level really is without drugs. also. I think older stars like Clemons and Manning should be allowed to take a controlled amount of HGH. So we can learn the truth about it helping older already skilled players. It's could be something like arthroscopic surgery that helped so many players come back early. And, became a boon to injuries in every walk of life.
2
I like Maria but this is crisis management at its best. She's got million dollar image consultants telling her, probably correctly, don't do what Lance Armstrong did, which was deny, deny, deny. It's a losing battle and as a result he is persona non grata, his reputation completely and irreparably destroyed. Instead, take the bull by the horns, call a press conference, own up to it - BUT do not admit taking it for PE purposes. Say it was for health reasons. What else is there to say? This is the best strategy to preserve/salvage her career and her legacy. Can she pull it off and resume her career? If any one can. she can because she's extremely likable and will be candid in her interviews. Time will tell.
86
I liked her a lot more before today's press conference.
3
Seriously? She's been taking this drug for nearly a decade.
In all that time the WADA never noticed it was a "performance enhancing" drug. But Sharapova supposedly knew that a decade ago? That doesn't make much sense.
In all that time the WADA never noticed it was a "performance enhancing" drug. But Sharapova supposedly knew that a decade ago? That doesn't make much sense.
"don't do what Lance Armstrong did, which was deny, deny, deny. It's a losing battle and as a result he is persona non grata, his reputation completely and irreparably destroyed."
I think it was the racketeering strongarming and destruction of others' careers that really left Lance up a creek without a paddle or a single friend.
I think it was the racketeering strongarming and destruction of others' careers that really left Lance up a creek without a paddle or a single friend.
I'm beginning to think every professional sport is dirty & corrupt. Is this a fair assessment, or am I merely too cynical?
4
It is hard to believe that NFL, MLB and Cycling have numerous cases of PED abuse, but WTA, NBA, and other professional leagues do not. Injuries are commonplace in all professional sports and the incentives are dramatically skewed on the side of cheating. Professional sports are just another money making business, not high minded joy of victory agony of defeat stuff.
3
If I was taking a drug that was helping me with my abnormal ekgs, proclivity to diabetes, immune deficiencies, etc and they banned the drug I would be concerned about how I would continue without that drug. She did not address any health concerns today. Interesting...
11
First, I don't have any issue with her taking a legal PED, but as soon as it becomes illegal and she gets caught with it, she better have a good reasoning why she's been taking for such long period of time. She should explain specifically what condition in her health required such long period of such drug. If her medical condition definitely requires such extensive use of the medication, then, I don't see any problem. However, so far, her explanation of being "sick," having flu, and family history of diabetes are very flimsy reasons for such extensive use of prescription drug.
Second, WADA is a joke. If WADA was serious about anti-doping, they could've easily employed biological passport long time ago. Anyone in this industry knows how prevalent PED use is amongt the elites, and how much the mouse is ahead of the cat in this game. No matter how advanced the blood work diagnostic and drug test tool are, athletes and their doctors are always ahead of them. There is no test that can test everything on the WADA list.
It's time for people to just accept the elite sports as it is. It's not where elite athletes with high morality and sportsmanship competing. That's like saying huge corporations are law abiding, ethical entities. Much is at stake. And drugs give tremendous advantage in performance boosting. For example, a sedentary chump can build more muscle with steroid than a gymrat who lifts weight every day with perfect diet without doping. Look for researches done by Bhasin .
Second, WADA is a joke. If WADA was serious about anti-doping, they could've easily employed biological passport long time ago. Anyone in this industry knows how prevalent PED use is amongt the elites, and how much the mouse is ahead of the cat in this game. No matter how advanced the blood work diagnostic and drug test tool are, athletes and their doctors are always ahead of them. There is no test that can test everything on the WADA list.
It's time for people to just accept the elite sports as it is. It's not where elite athletes with high morality and sportsmanship competing. That's like saying huge corporations are law abiding, ethical entities. Much is at stake. And drugs give tremendous advantage in performance boosting. For example, a sedentary chump can build more muscle with steroid than a gymrat who lifts weight every day with perfect diet without doping. Look for researches done by Bhasin .
3
the email should contain a list of NEW substances added, not just a simple link. that way it makes it very clear which NEW drugs athletes must look out for.
The drug was on the 2015 watch list!
6
These doping scandals go well beyond the guilt of an individual athlete. Our culture has bred a state of such frenzy to win and not only win but win bigger, faster ans stronger that it's inevitable that athletes would look to ways, readily available, to help them keep their wining edge. Can anyone really say that the concept of sportsmanship as embodied in the classic sense of the Greeks and Romans who were interested in testing their pure physical attributes against one another still exists at all? That worthy but glorified notion of what an athlete should represent is not even remembered by younger people today. It's all about "win at all costs" and thus sports have lost their glory and fascination for many of us who find the personification of a modern athlete anything but "sportsmanlike".
6
The "work at all costs" ethos has people like you popping a pseudoephedrine or benadryl or paracetamol or caffeine or whatever to improve your performance at work.
I'm sorry, what are you complaining about again?
I'm sorry, what are you complaining about again?
1
She makes millions and has a large support staff that assists and oversees every aspect of her professional life - their livelihoods depend on it. It's very hard to believe this was just an oversight.
16
This comes at time when the entire Russian track team is suspended for drug use by the IAAF, jeopardizing if not completely eliminating their opportunity to compete in the Olympic Games.
2
Great tennis player, but she'd make a lousy cyclist.
1
I can't believe the level of cynicism people have come to - she stepped up and said, "I did it." Is it impossible to take anything at face level? I have no reason to disbelief her - not like a Barry Bonds or some of the other baseball players. She's ready and expecting a punishment - it's reasonable to take that into account for an appropriate suspension.
3
Why do you believer her and not others such as Barry Bonds? Do you know here personally? Or does it have to do with Maria being a beautiful blond woman?
Anyone who isn't cynical about pro athletes denials of intentionally taking PEDs must have had their head in the sand for quite a while.
Anyone who isn't cynical about pro athletes denials of intentionally taking PEDs must have had their head in the sand for quite a while.
1
Lance Armstrong wannabes ought to take a leaf out of Maria's book. Admit it. Publicly. And fast.
The excuse makers are out in full force. For years and years, the haters said Serena was doping, on PEDs, drugs, etc. Maria was their blue eyed, blonde belle, the great White Russian hope, the messiah. Is karma a five letter word starting with b?
Now the excuse makers say it was a mistake, it is only banned for a few months. Yeah sure. And she was taking it because she has a family history of diabetes? It's like Armstrong took those PEDs because he has a family history of claustrophobia. I have been a type 2 diabetic for 15+ years, and my physician never told me take this, all I need is my Metformin and plenty of physical activity and a well balanced diet. Why was she taking this drug, widely used in eastern EU but not here in the US? This drug has clear benefits to endurance, recovery, etc. other Russian athletes in other sports were also caught with this drug, when it was already banned in their sports.
And keep in mind, she resides in the US mainly, and has access to the best doctors in the world. But this one - well, prescribed by a Russian family doctor. Sure.
If the drug gives some advantages to recovery and stamina, she had an unfair advantage and cheated, against players who did not use it. Period. That is called cheating.
And there is no question if this were Serena, people here would be calling to strip her of the US citizenship and send her to Guantanamo and subject to water boarding. But then, Serena is not blonde Russian
Now the excuse makers say it was a mistake, it is only banned for a few months. Yeah sure. And she was taking it because she has a family history of diabetes? It's like Armstrong took those PEDs because he has a family history of claustrophobia. I have been a type 2 diabetic for 15+ years, and my physician never told me take this, all I need is my Metformin and plenty of physical activity and a well balanced diet. Why was she taking this drug, widely used in eastern EU but not here in the US? This drug has clear benefits to endurance, recovery, etc. other Russian athletes in other sports were also caught with this drug, when it was already banned in their sports.
And keep in mind, she resides in the US mainly, and has access to the best doctors in the world. But this one - well, prescribed by a Russian family doctor. Sure.
If the drug gives some advantages to recovery and stamina, she had an unfair advantage and cheated, against players who did not use it. Period. That is called cheating.
And there is no question if this were Serena, people here would be calling to strip her of the US citizenship and send her to Guantanamo and subject to water boarding. But then, Serena is not blonde Russian
34
The logic here is impeccable. She had an unfair advantage and cheated by doing something that was not against the rules. I'm sorry, that makes no sense. By that logic, the athlete who benefits from having access to superior training facilities, nutrition support, the latest sports science, athletic gear, etc. is cheating every time they go up against a player who doesn't have access to those same resources.
And because Sharapova is a white, blonde, Russian, she is super-extra double guilty because some people who like her hate Serena Williams for absurd, racist reasons. That makes sense, too...
And for the record, I'm a much bigger fan of Serena's than I am of Sharapova's.
And because Sharapova is a white, blonde, Russian, she is super-extra double guilty because some people who like her hate Serena Williams for absurd, racist reasons. That makes sense, too...
And for the record, I'm a much bigger fan of Serena's than I am of Sharapova's.
1
I'm surprised at the length of many of these comments. Why do we always feel a need to intrude in someone else's life and make a judgment one way or the other? I know Maria is a public figure and did hold a press conference to announce the findings but still... I think way too many people have too much time on their hands.
2
But you're too busy to read or write comments about anything so triial.
7
Ms Sharapova has lived and played tennis in the United States, where the drug is banned, since she was a child. It seems as if she has cheated in more than one way by using it.
12
#1 I am not surprised that she took a PED that was legal until 1/1/2016. Why not take it? if you don't take it and everyone else is taking it, it's not a level playing field
#2 I am disappointed in how dumb she is to have gotten caught. How does every professional athlete not scrutinize their med/supplement list against the banned substances list?
#3 I am flabbergasted that she would even make an attempt to have us believe she was taking this for a true medical condition. That notion is completely and utterly absurd and anyone who believes it is a dube.
#2 I am disappointed in how dumb she is to have gotten caught. How does every professional athlete not scrutinize their med/supplement list against the banned substances list?
#3 I am flabbergasted that she would even make an attempt to have us believe she was taking this for a true medical condition. That notion is completely and utterly absurd and anyone who believes it is a dube.
15
rube, not dube.
2
1) Where is the evidence the substance is a performance enhancer?
2) Expecting a professional athlete(!) to be able to read and understand the full list WADA publishes is about as reasonable as expecting you to be fully aware of even a small portion of US tax law.
3) Gee. Are you privy to Sharapova's medical history or something?
2) Expecting a professional athlete(!) to be able to read and understand the full list WADA publishes is about as reasonable as expecting you to be fully aware of even a small portion of US tax law.
3) Gee. Are you privy to Sharapova's medical history or something?
"1) Where is the evidence the substance is a performance enhancer?"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280 (includes references to prior studies)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280 (includes references to prior studies)
Regrettably, her health has been bad for several years, and she probably should hang them up. Her team and sponsors keep her playing for their own selfish reasons, maybe she is telling them to stick-it. Thanks Maria, for informing all of us. You are still the same great lady as you have always been.
3
More information needs to come out. Her story has a few holes, or at least it sounds like she is spinning it a bit, but, on the other hand, the substance has only been banned for a few months -- that seems odd as well. On top of all that I have been reading up on the drug, and its benefits don't seem all that great or well defined. It's kind of a peculiar story at this point in time.
4
If pro sports believes they know what they are doing and is so interested in what athletes are ingesting why don't they give them a list of things they can take and make them ask permission for things off the list? Playing whack a mole and gotcha is getting tiring for all of us to debate.
3
They should ban substances based on amount and intention, whether a doctor has prescribed it for health.
1
So what get over it, I seriously doubt these meds help much.
3
I think she told the truth. I believe her. The inadvertent happening can't ruin her career. She can get over it.
1
I think that taking a medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor should be legal even if has a mild performance enhancing in it. After all sugar would enhance energy so I guess a swig of Coca Cola or any other energy drink would enhance as would water.
The thing is unless the doctor can find an equally good drug for Maria without the Melodomium then Sharapova is at a disadvantage because she could be playing when 'ill'.
Doctors need to be aware of PEDs as well and either have their prescription approved or not.
STAN CHUN
Wellington
New Zealand
8 March, 2016.
The thing is unless the doctor can find an equally good drug for Maria without the Melodomium then Sharapova is at a disadvantage because she could be playing when 'ill'.
Doctors need to be aware of PEDs as well and either have their prescription approved or not.
STAN CHUN
Wellington
New Zealand
8 March, 2016.
1
So Sharapova has been using PEDs for ten years and yet Serena has been whupping her butt all over the court all this time. Hilarious.
32
Isn't it LOL?!!
3
I'm sorry Sharapova tested positive for a banned medication. She is an attractive and likable woman and tennis player who is widely disliked by American women because she is attractive and likable.
1
Who cares if she is likable and attractive? What does that have to do with this news story?
13
This strikes me as punitive and unnecessary. WADA sent an email on December 22, 2015 stating that the drug would be banned effective January 1, 2016.
That's ONLY 8 days - during the holiday season when people are not monitoring their emails closely - to comply with a new directive.
Given the drug was legal for decades, 8 days is way too short and it is no surprise that athletes have been unfairly implicated in this doping "scandal".
WADA - what say you?
That's ONLY 8 days - during the holiday season when people are not monitoring their emails closely - to comply with a new directive.
Given the drug was legal for decades, 8 days is way too short and it is no surprise that athletes have been unfairly implicated in this doping "scandal".
WADA - what say you?
5
Sorry , it is part of Sharapova 's job to keep up with the list of banned substances even those that are added over the holidays. Since there is so much at stake, I imagine there is prominent notice of substances to be added in the near future, in other words there are no surprises.
Yes, the email system seems ludicrous, but this is an elite athlete ( with a multi-million dollar team behind her) we are discussing. It is their job to know.
Again folks, calm down and think here.
1) The ban on this substance was announced Sept. 16, the end of the majors season. She played three smaller events since and then the Australian, the first place she would have been tested. If she knew about the ban and wanted to subvert the rules, she would have had ample opportunity to find a way to hide it. It's much more likely that she just didn't know. That's her fault, which she admits, but nothing to get worked up over.
2) Her FAMILY doctor, not a trainer or sports doctor, prescribed it to her. I don't find it surprising that a family doctor, whether in Russia, the U.S. or wherever, would not know of the ban, especially since it was called something else in the WADA announcement.
1) The ban on this substance was announced Sept. 16, the end of the majors season. She played three smaller events since and then the Australian, the first place she would have been tested. If she knew about the ban and wanted to subvert the rules, she would have had ample opportunity to find a way to hide it. It's much more likely that she just didn't know. That's her fault, which she admits, but nothing to get worked up over.
2) Her FAMILY doctor, not a trainer or sports doctor, prescribed it to her. I don't find it surprising that a family doctor, whether in Russia, the U.S. or wherever, would not know of the ban, especially since it was called something else in the WADA announcement.
3
How naive would you expect your fellow NY Times readers to be? An athlete at an elite level taking a drug prescribed by her family doctor without approval from a sports doctor? I guess the difference in names must have confused her medical staff too?
And, you are asking others to "think here"?
And, you are asking others to "think here"?
1
Was the medication prescribed for a real problem or was the prognosis fabricated to allow her to take a medication that enhanced her endurance? Seems like second opinions should be sought for such illnesses.
2
I think it is an inspiration to those of us on heart medication to see how fit and active we still can be .
11
Thanks to the New York Times for finally updating this story to include more information about the drug, along with the crucial piece of the story: the medical indication claimed by Sharapova for taking the drug.
Is her story true? Seems very unlikely. Hope investigative reporters will do more work to figure out if meldonium is indeed prescribed for the conditions Sharapova claims her doctors have it to her for.
Is her story true? Seems very unlikely. Hope investigative reporters will do more work to figure out if meldonium is indeed prescribed for the conditions Sharapova claims her doctors have it to her for.
2
What should make even bigger headlines is the fact that at lower levels - and I mean your Small Town USA level 5K - doping goes on. There's the real story. As for doping at pro level, well, as some have said, a person really has to prove that he or she does *not* use PEDs, because we assume you are (like everyone else in Pro-Land).
Sad, and rather boring actually.
Sad, and rather boring actually.
2
She does not say whether she was taking the medication to treat a heart problem. She only says that she had an abnormal EKG finding, which is not necessarily a sign of disease. The point here is that she may have used her medical conditions as an excuse to benefit from the performance-enhancing properties of the the recently banned drug. This is probably why she does not discuss whether she should be entitled to a Therapeutic Use Exemption, which is the first thing pro cyclists bring up when a doping test comes back positive (e.g. Chris Froome), because it CAN in some cases be a legitimate defense.
Moreover, she does not say whether she will quit tennis because of not being used to treat her abnormal EKG finding. My guess is that it does not need to be treated and that her team knowingly allowed her to use the drug for its performance-enhancing properties. Now she is faced with "taking full responsibility" because she is backed into a corner.
It is virtually impossible for a multi million dollar athlete to not know of banned substances as a result of a misread email. This is her team's responsibility too and they are professionals whose job is to be aware of such changes.
Moreover, she does not say whether she will quit tennis because of not being used to treat her abnormal EKG finding. My guess is that it does not need to be treated and that her team knowingly allowed her to use the drug for its performance-enhancing properties. Now she is faced with "taking full responsibility" because she is backed into a corner.
It is virtually impossible for a multi million dollar athlete to not know of banned substances as a result of a misread email. This is her team's responsibility too and they are professionals whose job is to be aware of such changes.
115
What I find strange is that she said never read the email, well you do read your big contracts to see that all your 00000 are in order, so why would you not read your email is my question. As for medical reason, why would a young who is in top shape would be taking any drugs.
Well said! Beautifully put and rational unlike so many of her defenders statements.
As a person healthy enough to compete (though never even place, much less win) at the masters level in a sport, I was amazed at how many drugs (3) I took for not uncommon, chronic conditions that required waivers. All it took to get the waivers was a doctor's note and a backup lab report. This just does not sound like a big deal.
2
This is not a drug you take for a magnesium deficiency - for that you take magnesium. Similarly with her other health issues. This is an unapproved drug of choice among Eastern European drug cheats and frankly the evidence to date suggests that Sharapova is among their number.
12
I am an elite distance runner, and the last time I was tested in competition, I thought it wouldn't be a shock if I had turned up a positive. There is so much out there that is on the "banned" list that could be medication, or a supplement, or even tainted food.
The real dopers who actually are trying to game the system rarely test positive; they are much smarter than to do things that will trigger a positive test.
The real dopers who actually are trying to game the system rarely test positive; they are much smarter than to do things that will trigger a positive test.
6
7 other Russian athletes taking the same substance have all been banned...hmmm. If it is not FDA approved and this athlete lives in the United states does she have to get an out of the country doctor to prescribe it to her?
12
Color me skeptical.
If your job requires you to not take certain pharmaceuticals, would it not make sense to have your Physician make a phone call before writing an Rx?
If your job requires you to not take certain pharmaceuticals, would it not make sense to have your Physician make a phone call before writing an Rx?
5
This is all about nothing, this will not cost her a cent. On the other hand if this was Serena, folks would point to it and say, she's been a doper her whole career and this finally confirms it.
10
Agreed. If this were Serena - just imagine the hostile, unsympathetic castigation she'd experience. Serena's entire career would be suspect and subject to even worse theories and wild rumors. This would be PROOF that Serena is not as good as she has been. Sharapova gets a pass. Dare I point to blond, white privilege??!!
7
Come on Sharapova, you did not know? Impossible for a professional athlete at her level. She´s advised by the very best doctors in sports. She´s another one caught doing the same. The fact that she´s cute and seemingly a nice person does not hinder the fact of what she did consciously as Lance Armstrong taught us all.
3
She is handling this with class.
2
Really? The white public circles the wagons to protect the golden white child . How predictable !!!
7
IMHO The Bad Guys here are the Anti-Doping folks.
It's obvious that Maria isn't the only person that ran into this.
The Testing Folks should have been testing for this drug AT LEAST 6 months before the Ban went into effect.
They should have sent discreet notices to the folks who were soon to be failing, and publicized the new addition
The way they did this, they should have known that certain people would fail before hand, and politely notified them.
GOTCHA!
It's obvious that Maria isn't the only person that ran into this.
The Testing Folks should have been testing for this drug AT LEAST 6 months before the Ban went into effect.
They should have sent discreet notices to the folks who were soon to be failing, and publicized the new addition
The way they did this, they should have known that certain people would fail before hand, and politely notified them.
GOTCHA!
3
It was only added to the schedule recently. Notwithstanding, anyone who has played Division 1 sports at a high level here in the US has heard of it and known how widespread its usage is. It does carry a reputation in athletic circles as a performance enhancer (a reputation that is confirmed in medical literature... mildronate is a PED). The fact that she was prescribed a congestive heart failure drug that isn't even approved for use in the US for "magnesium deficiency," the flu, and lowered immunity is curious to say the least. Magnesium deficiency is easily cured by... magnesium. Any other issues with magnesium deficiency can be addressed by making sure your hydration and electrolytes are in order. Absorption issues - low stomach acid can affect absorption of minerals - also affect magnesium levels.
As for lowered immunity, there is nothing in the literature as far as I know that suggests mildronate is an effective immunomodulatory agent. Again, this "prescription" that conveniently coincides with the bulk of her career is curious to me.
There is irony of course, because Serena Williams has faced nothing but recriminations for her physique - where it's one of her prime adversaries admitting to PED use for the better part of a decade.
Perception and reality often diverge, my friends.
As for lowered immunity, there is nothing in the literature as far as I know that suggests mildronate is an effective immunomodulatory agent. Again, this "prescription" that conveniently coincides with the bulk of her career is curious to me.
There is irony of course, because Serena Williams has faced nothing but recriminations for her physique - where it's one of her prime adversaries admitting to PED use for the better part of a decade.
Perception and reality often diverge, my friends.
15
Awwww the readers are giving her a pass for owning up to her horrible sportsmanship bc she's doing it in a "classy" way... If it was Serena with the same pathetic word track, she would still be get crucified... Gotta love the good ole okey dokey white privilege.
17
Do you think Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, et al, ever heard of Meldonium? Do you think there's an elite athlete in professional sports that's not aware of it?
These guys have $120 million contracts because they are at the apex of their intensely competitive field. They know everything, along with the boundaries and limits. What if they've been taking it the last ten years, too?
And what about the "*" in the record books and banning of MLB players for having an unfair advantage because of PED's? Suppose the "good guys" were taking Meldonium, a substance that was not banned? . . . and now it because of it's performance enhancing traits?
These guys have $120 million contracts because they are at the apex of their intensely competitive field. They know everything, along with the boundaries and limits. What if they've been taking it the last ten years, too?
And what about the "*" in the record books and banning of MLB players for having an unfair advantage because of PED's? Suppose the "good guys" were taking Meldonium, a substance that was not banned? . . . and now it because of it's performance enhancing traits?
3
Shame on her! To not read the e-mail announcement about changes in what drugs are allowed is just thumbing her nose at rules. She only comes out and apologizes after she is caught! Not only take away her endorsements, fine her a big percentage of her total income. If she is going to make money because of her known influence over other people, fine her to teach them a lesson that she is not to be followed after all.
1
If she stopped grunting, maybe she wouldn't need to take the banned drug.
8
She won Wimbledon in 2004, 2 years before she started taking this "now banned" drug for health reasons. There is no denying her talent and professionalism on and off court.
We should appreciate her honesty and courage in coming out frankly. Not like few other people (you can guess who I am talking about!) who fought charges, maligned other people and told lie for years.
She deserves another chance, no doubt in that!
We should appreciate her honesty and courage in coming out frankly. Not like few other people (you can guess who I am talking about!) who fought charges, maligned other people and told lie for years.
She deserves another chance, no doubt in that!
4
The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) sent out an Alert on September 15 as well as the Russian government (Sharapova's nationality) that this substance was banned. Furthermore, the substance was on the "monitored' list for ALL of 2015 becuase it is now recognized as a PED. Sharapova, who sells the candy SUGARpova has claimed that she has been taking it for 10 yrs since age 18, because she has a family history of diabetes among other things, yet she did not claim to have diabetes, did she? The drug is not approved by the the FDA, so perhaps she has been getting it from an out of the country doctor? yet, she has lived in the United States since she was a young child. Other Russian athletes, including a top figure skater, have been banned for taking this same substance.
9
This is an example of DERILICTION OF REPONSIBILITY ON THE TENNIS FEDERATION. They had to know that Ms. Sharapova was using this NON-PROHIBITED DRUG FOR YEARS. Then, suddenly, without prior notice they changed the rules. Had they notified her specifically about that change I am convinced that she would have stopped using it imediatly. HOW MANY OF US HAVE LEFT UNREAD COUNTLESS notification about a variety of issues which we failed to inform ourselves of. enough to read. PLENTY
4
The sudden banning of a substance that has been a part of prescribed drugs for years strikes me as rather arbitrary. If this is the story, then Sharapova should not be penalized.
17
It's not arbitrary-athletes were notified last September by WADA AND thiis drug she was taking was on the monitoring list for all of 2015. I suspect the athletes are more than privy to this info. They are sent a list of banned substances and it is an athletes job to know if they are taking banned drugs.
10
The drug was on the monitored list last year and then put on the prohibited list this year. It was not done suddenly or arbitrarily. See link. https://wada-main-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/resources/files/wada-2016-prohib...
6
Incredible but true: caffeine was on the Index Prohibitorum until 2004.
1
She takes this medication because she is a diabetic -- this is an off-label use of Meldonium, and it works. It's performance enhancing abilities are second to its actual medical uses.
40
It is NOT for diabetes. It is for advanced heart failure. It's use by Eastern European and former Soviet republic athletes is part of a doping epidemic. Sharapova's positive test is just the tip of a very big iceberg. I think it's safe to assume that many, if not most, high-performance athletes look for every possible method to gain an advantage: hit the ball one MPH faster, throw the ball one MPH faster, run one MPH faster, lift a weight one kilogram heavier....and that search often leads down the slippery slope to PEDs, knowingly or not. I give Ms. Sharapova some credit for acknowledging responsibility, but it's only because she got caught.
51
Amen. Can anyone possibly imagine the outcry that would have resulted if Serena Williams had been found guilty of a doping violation? The tennis world would have been deluged with cries for Serena's immediate banning and there would have no attempts to white wash her doping actions. As for endorsements, Serena would have been an immediate pariah !!!
Wow, this is the reason why white racism continues being a problem in this country
Wow, this is the reason why white racism continues being a problem in this country
5
Wrong Jeremy. During the news conference she indicated she has a "family HISTORY of diabetes" but does not have the disease herself. Her interview is all over the net, Sharapova NEVER says she is diabetic.
7
@skip1515 If you take a look at the document linked in the article you will see that the announcement was dated SEPTEMBER 2015 and the drug is listed under BOTH names. While I admire Maria's fighting spirit this pushes believability .
11
Another crying athlete, but only after she gets caught.
Arise, Lance Sharapova
She did not check banned substances, nor have her doctor, trainer, etc check for her. Sure. what's not to believe
Arise, Lance Sharapova
She did not check banned substances, nor have her doctor, trainer, etc check for her. Sure. what's not to believe
40
... says the peanut gallery...
1
She is light years from Lance Armstrong's level of abuse. Come on!
4
She's so beautiful and rich. At this point in her career what does it matter?
Retire and enjoy the rest of your life. I know she's a competitor but she's not getting any younger.
Retire and enjoy the rest of your life. I know she's a competitor but she's not getting any younger.
3
no surprise---all the top athletes cheat with juicing and doping. Things never change.
6
In her press conference, MS implies that she has or at least has a family history of diabetes which is the reason why she needed to take the drug. What kind of diabetic or potential diabetic starts a candy company (Sugarpova) selling products laden with sugar?
22
This goes out to all you racist bigots that always claim Serena is doping.... Welp, your fearless 2nd seed tennis player who CAN NEVER beat Serena has taken yet another L!
How do you feel now?
How do you feel now?
34
Amen !!!
Who are you talking about,?? Serena and Venus are both much loved as far as I know. Racism is for losers, Venus and Serena and the rest of the Williams family are great representatives of a strong Christian American family everywhere that they go in the world. Besides their stellar talent and performance.
2
Maybe Serena is next. You never know.
2
I follow sports closely but never watched Sharapova, but heard the commotion about her looks. After watching this confession, I see what the buzz was about. PS: Once you add money as a reward in sports - as opposed to amateur sports, it is natural that people are going to use drugs - in the very least to recover from injury or prolong a career.
14
@Andre,
Don't kid yourself. There is plenty of illegal drug use and other cheating in amateur sports. It is just human nature.
Don't kid yourself. There is plenty of illegal drug use and other cheating in amateur sports. It is just human nature.
2
"I follow sports closely but never watched Sharapova, but heard the commotion about her looks."
Any chance you're confusing her w/ Anna Kournikova? Sharapova is a legit tennis player.
Any chance you're confusing her w/ Anna Kournikova? Sharapova is a legit tennis player.
I'm stunned by the level of apparent hatred for Ms. Sharapova in these comments. I don't follow women's tennis very closely (I watch the LPGA instead), but it seems like a lot of people here have been waiting to attack Sharapova for whatever reasons and have grabbed onto this story as justification. It is pretty obvious that Serena Williams is a much more accomplished tennis star than Sharapova, but I don't see why being a fan of Williams means you have to revile Sharapova? Is it because Sharapova makes so much money from endorsements? If so, then attack the industry and the media for their racism, not Sharapova for happening to be beautiful and white.
Lexi Thompson has been promoting her cover-girl looks, too. Do you all have the same ire for her that you have for Sharapova? How much of it is a result of the fact that Williams is black and earns less in endorsement money as a result? Will you start attacking Thompson because she earns more from endorsements than Lydia Ko?
According to this article it's not like Williams doesn't get some nice paydays from endorsements either, $12 million in 2014 alone. Williams ranked third in endorsement income among all female athletes behind only Sharapova and Li Na.
http://www.therichest.com/sports/top-10-highest-earning-sports-women-in-...
Lexi Thompson has been promoting her cover-girl looks, too. Do you all have the same ire for her that you have for Sharapova? How much of it is a result of the fact that Williams is black and earns less in endorsement money as a result? Will you start attacking Thompson because she earns more from endorsements than Lydia Ko?
According to this article it's not like Williams doesn't get some nice paydays from endorsements either, $12 million in 2014 alone. Williams ranked third in endorsement income among all female athletes behind only Sharapova and Li Na.
http://www.therichest.com/sports/top-10-highest-earning-sports-women-in-...
15
People are not hating on Sharapova but instead calling out her fans and the haters of Serena Williams. The haters all claimed Sharapova was better than Williams but she loses because Williams is on steroids. But it turns out that Sharapova is the one doping. Go figure...
No nothings criticize Sharapova for her endorsements. Serena Williams has done quite nicely. What, now we should get into a racial issue about it?
1
She's not reviled for her rivalry with Williams. She is being reviled for being a cheater.
4
The corporate world will make sure that Sharapova would receive minimal possible sanction which likely to be suspension until French Open.
Hoshiar
Hoshiar
4
I really was impressed at her taking full responsibility. She asked for mercy but was willing to take the consequences of her actions. We should all act so.
8
It seems we are getting a bit stupid about some things - finally banning a medication that is a cardiac medication that has been used for years without a problem. There's nothing wrong with Sharapova and plenty wrong with the drug testing industry. It's an industry - get it. It has to add medications to its "verboten" list to stay in business and give some dopes some jobs.
11
It's not banned. She can take the medication. She just cannot compete as a professional, without a legitimate use for this medication -- what is known as a Therapeutic Use Exemption. If an athlete gets a TUE, then it is because the tennis association recognizes that she has an illness that should be treated. Increasing the list of banned medications is a way to close loopholes for unfair advantages.
2
I need a question answered: Did the Romans sports participants use performance enhancing drugs? From horses to humans there is always a buck to be made for the benefit of the elite.
2
On the surface, this seems to have been an honest mistake, which is unfortunate. I can respect Maria Sharapova for this admission. It was a good move. I don't think her legacy will suffer too much from this.
6
Why should it? She is the blonde darling that does no wrong. Now just imagine if it was Serena. Ha!!!
8
Of course not because white athletic idols must never be seen as having feet of clay. Peyton Manning literally commits a sex crime in college and it swept under the rug. Tiger Woods has consensual sex with multiple women and the racist white public attempt to destroy his career wit h their fake notions of piety and morality. Really?
Karma is something , huh !!!
Karma is something , huh !!!
9
How can you tell if she's lying?? Are her lips moving? Every cell in her body is also saying this. Hey, and a lawyer says, "She want to be very upfront," not just "up front." Why, because ENDORSEMENTS, BABY. Hasn't she made enough to last her several lifetimes?
7
Thanks for your compassionate response to a woman in a difficult spot. Also, that talent for reading someone's mind must come in handy.
1
Yes, she is in a difficult spot, entirely of her own making. I save my compassion for people in a difficult spot that they had no control over.
Professional Sports is a very difficult endeavor to enter successfully, it is indeed even more difficult to maintain as a long professional career without suffering the slings & arrows of probable ijury and the sheer process of aging. It is these realities which encourage many pro's to either take prescribed enhancements or face quitting the game. This does not make the 'illegal act' justifiable, but it does make it understandable.
Yet perhaps the more daunting debate that remains quite unsettled in the debate, is the ineviable fact that in the future designer enhancement drugs for both athletes and scholars alike, is that without these 'artificial drugs', mere normal human physical and mental abilities will meet a 'brick wall' to further stunning progression and advancements, to which only 'artifical enhancement drugs' will be the singular solution. Yet human nature being what it is, the new 'enhancements' will be embraced, illegal or not, in order that one may gain a superior advantage over one's fellow man or woman.
Yet perhaps the more daunting debate that remains quite unsettled in the debate, is the ineviable fact that in the future designer enhancement drugs for both athletes and scholars alike, is that without these 'artificial drugs', mere normal human physical and mental abilities will meet a 'brick wall' to further stunning progression and advancements, to which only 'artifical enhancement drugs' will be the singular solution. Yet human nature being what it is, the new 'enhancements' will be embraced, illegal or not, in order that one may gain a superior advantage over one's fellow man or woman.
10
Do you, as an audience, want to watch robots compete? They won't have that many "brick walls" to hit. That's the "reality" you're trying to justify these doping athletes with.
3
Why is it that human achievement is suddenly going to hit a wall after thousands if not millions of years of forward progress? Methinks you have an outlook issue.
Meldonium (Mildronate) was added because of evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance. This is per "http://www.usada.org/substances/prohibited-list/major-changes-2016-prohi..."
So if Maria can show it was prescribed and taken for legitimate medical reasons - she should be able to get a waiver.
So if Maria can show it was prescribed and taken for legitimate medical reasons - she should be able to get a waiver.
5
I'm not sure exactly why these 'performance' enhancing drugs are illegal in pro sports. We allow countless medical procedures, equipment, all different kinds of enhancements to the human creature in sports. I suspect in time whether or not an athlete wants to medicate as well won't matter. It seems a fight that is doomed to be lost. What notion are we trying to support with all these bans? A notion of purity that never existed? Shoe companies spend millions designing shoes to run faster ETC. I'm just wondering if this isn't all a passing fad and that eventually technology wether in the form of equipment and training or various medical procedures or various medications won't be part of pro sports without all the posturing.
6
What a beautiful face for Meldonium. Much better than Peyton Manning for HGH.
As Elaine Benes might say, "She has grace."
As Elaine Benes might say, "She has grace."
6
Amen. I wonder if the Aljezera investigation (with the many deliveries of HGH) had anything to do with Manning's retirement? Don't dare criticize one of those national treasure former NFL guys, but Maria Sharapova is fair game.
1
I would personally pay for any medication necessary to help Maria Sharapova stop that God-awful screaming she does every time she makes a shot.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
144
Amen
1
@ hoconnor
I will gladly co-pay for the medication to make her stop screaming so loud that I always have to turn down the volume on my tele. When she serves she even screams before she hits the ball.
I will gladly co-pay for the medication to make her stop screaming so loud that I always have to turn down the volume on my tele. When she serves she even screams before she hits the ball.
1
To all sports fans : we love to build them up and love to bring them down. She's down now,but she'll be back. A warrior.
2
now we now where she gets her energy
2
Kudos to her for coming forward. She didn't have to and doesn't really owe anyone an explanation. She's probably one of the few positive role models in society who was willing to come clean. A class act and I hope she plays for a few more years. She's always been a winner.
72
She got busted - what else was she going to do - her sponsors had their eyes on her.
41
Wrong.
She didn't come clean, she made excuses. A family history of diabetes and a questionable abnormality on an EKG is not an indication to take this drug.
I'm a tennis player and a fan of professional tennis, her explanation was just a hollow mea culpa after getting caught. My 12 year old daughter plays and Sharapova is one of her favorites, what a disappointment.
She didn't come clean, she made excuses. A family history of diabetes and a questionable abnormality on an EKG is not an indication to take this drug.
I'm a tennis player and a fan of professional tennis, her explanation was just a hollow mea culpa after getting caught. My 12 year old daughter plays and Sharapova is one of her favorites, what a disappointment.
10
You've gotta be kidding me. "She didn't have to", you say? How long do you, in all seriousness, believe that her doping result will be kept in secret? In short, she has no choice. The cat will come out in a hurry, and she's trying to preempt the release of the result, in the attempt to make it look like she's "clean." But, "clean," she's not.
5
Wow !
Tennis has an absolutely abysmal testing program
How Bad did she have "mess up" to get caught?
I just don't buy the Joker with his never ending endurance in 105f weather playing for 5 hours and running like a machine.
Or the female star who while looking like she could play Linebacker in the NFL was so afraid when a drug tester knocked on her door at 10am that she had to retreat to her "panic room" and of course she was too panicked to be tested as a result of that "trauma"
Hmmm
Those are just two that come to mind..
Now Sharapova was on PED's in Australia ...
Who was the womens competitor who beat her?
And if she's on PED's yet someone is able to beat her what exact conclusions should be drawn from that? hmmm
So difficult to figure out - Not
After the Lance Armstrong debacle I'm done with extending the benefit of the doubt.
When Lance was climbing the Alpe d'Huez like a Formula One car there was never any doubt in my mind as to how that was being accomplished.
No I don't believe in "new special workout routines" combined with "a new special nutrition program", combined with a new commitment to excellence...
I believe PED's are rampant in pro sports and that may be the saddest thing of all.
No longer can I enjoy a game or a match or a competition and see some sublime athletic performance without at least the thought that it was provided to us by chemicals...
Tennis has an absolutely abysmal testing program
How Bad did she have "mess up" to get caught?
I just don't buy the Joker with his never ending endurance in 105f weather playing for 5 hours and running like a machine.
Or the female star who while looking like she could play Linebacker in the NFL was so afraid when a drug tester knocked on her door at 10am that she had to retreat to her "panic room" and of course she was too panicked to be tested as a result of that "trauma"
Hmmm
Those are just two that come to mind..
Now Sharapova was on PED's in Australia ...
Who was the womens competitor who beat her?
And if she's on PED's yet someone is able to beat her what exact conclusions should be drawn from that? hmmm
So difficult to figure out - Not
After the Lance Armstrong debacle I'm done with extending the benefit of the doubt.
When Lance was climbing the Alpe d'Huez like a Formula One car there was never any doubt in my mind as to how that was being accomplished.
No I don't believe in "new special workout routines" combined with "a new special nutrition program", combined with a new commitment to excellence...
I believe PED's are rampant in pro sports and that may be the saddest thing of all.
No longer can I enjoy a game or a match or a competition and see some sublime athletic performance without at least the thought that it was provided to us by chemicals...
12
Serena does not look like she could play an NFL linebacker, please just stop with the bigoted and sexist attacks on her body type. I don't feel the need to defend Serena's work ethic, she does that well enough herself, but these stupid comments about her body really just have to stop.
31
I doubt you were very good at giving the benefit of the doubt even before the Lance Armstrong "debacle".
7
"Who was the womens competitor who beat her?
And if she's on PED's yet someone is able to beat her what exact conclusions should be drawn from that? hmmm"
While Tennis players are extremely fit athletes, it's still a game of skill. If somebody beats Sharapova it's because she is a better player, not because she might use PEDs. And meldonium has been "approved" for decades for athletes, meaning it was only added to banned substances last year. Wada's doctors said that it's proven benefits are very small, but because all these eastern european athletes use it (and it was well known) WADA decided to ad meldonium to the banned substances.
And if she's on PED's yet someone is able to beat her what exact conclusions should be drawn from that? hmmm"
While Tennis players are extremely fit athletes, it's still a game of skill. If somebody beats Sharapova it's because she is a better player, not because she might use PEDs. And meldonium has been "approved" for decades for athletes, meaning it was only added to banned substances last year. Wada's doctors said that it's proven benefits are very small, but because all these eastern european athletes use it (and it was well known) WADA decided to ad meldonium to the banned substances.
1
Sharapova's claim that she didn't "read" the notification about the recent ban on the performance enhancing (i.e. oxygen boosting) drug she'd been taking for years is impossible to believe. So nobody in the entourage of the highest paid female athlete in the world - her trainer, her coach, her medical advisor, et al - bothered to inform her of the change? I don't believe it, and neither should the authorities.
73
She take the med for diabetes -- an off label use -- and has for nearly a decade.
Move along, nothing to see here...
Move along, nothing to see here...
2
She doesn't have diabetes she said she has a family history of diabetes. Who starts taking a drug at age 18 when you don't even have the disease? Just because my 50 relative has a heart attack, doesn't mean i'm going to start taking heart meds at 18.
6
She does not have diabetes.
2
Ms Sharapova reason for taking Meldonium, is that she suffered from Diabete. Suffering for Diabete did not stop Ms Sharapova to launch a candy brand.
13
Well, there's two types of diabetes, one can be caused by a bad diet and one is congenital... Which one do you think she has?
Sharapova does not have my sympathy---all her grunting and screaming on the court is rude and self-absorbed and completely unprofessional. She needs to grow up and learn some basic manners.
11
Hmmm, I always thought Sharapova screamed on every stroke for the heck of it, to annoy everyone, but maybe she has been doing that because of pain??
5
Probably not either of those theories.
1
Well I'm glad she wasn't heading up a major cancer research foundation or anything. And actually it's refreshing to have an athlete just come right out and admit they were using illegal substances for an unfair advantage; the usual case (with all the guys anyway) is to vehemently deny it, attack all their accusers, for years sometimes, until there is absolutely no doubt that they were doping. And some have continued long after there was no doubt (yo Sosa, Armstrong, I'm looking at you).
11
She had been taking it for years, while it was legal. So, why would she, thinking she was legal, bother to notice that, UNDER ANOTHER NAME, her prescription drug was now banned? She has come foreward and accepted responsibility for making such a mistake, which, under the circumstances, as reported, I'll buy until evidence of deliberate malfeasance is disclosed.
4
Hi Dan,
Glad to see you're taking a break from politics, it was a rough week.
I just listened to her press conference. She didn't own it in my opinion, she mentioned diabetes and viral illnesses, Mildronate has no indication for either condition. Maybe she missed the memo, but personally, I'm not buying it.
Glad to see you're taking a break from politics, it was a rough week.
I just listened to her press conference. She didn't own it in my opinion, she mentioned diabetes and viral illnesses, Mildronate has no indication for either condition. Maybe she missed the memo, but personally, I'm not buying it.
7
I'm not going to pretend to have special knowledge of this situation, but I don't see anything in this article indicating that she was "using illegal substances for an unfair advantage." Whether we believe her story or not is one thing, but saying she CONFESSED to trying to gain an unfair advantage over others is simply not true. Her official story is that: (1) she was given the drug for health reasons in a dose that does not yield the advantages for which it was recently banned; (2) she was not aware of the latest update to the banned substances list; and (3) that she accepts it was her responsibility to inform herself of these things. Now, I can neither confirm nor refute Sharapova's story, but one thing I CAN do... is repeat it off of an article I just read.
2
Glad it wasn;t Serena. She woulda been crucified.
43
Note to all the Serena lovers. The Sharapova story does not exonerate Serena, who based on distorted physical appearance and court rage, appears to be the most obvious PED user since Barry Bonds.
In fact, this incident supports the notion that athletes across the board are probably taking substances that either, are not YET on the banned substance list, or not able to be detected.
In fact, this incident supports the notion that athletes across the board are probably taking substances that either, are not YET on the banned substance list, or not able to be detected.
7
You might think she has a 'distorted physical appearance' but those of us who happen to be black and who have the same physical appearance find her body perfectly normal so give the "attacking Serena's body" a rest.
And having watched her for over 20 years, it is her calm (despite among other things, the stupid attacks on her physical appearance by ignorant bigots) that has struck me, much more than the 2 isolated incidents that have occurred in a 20 year span.
The facts are simple: Serena and Sharapova have both been tested and only one of them has tested positive for a banned substance. Serena has not and until she does I am willing to give her the same benefit of the doubt that I gave Sharapova before she tested positive (I mean... did you not wonder how such a slight person was able to hit so hard???).
And having watched her for over 20 years, it is her calm (despite among other things, the stupid attacks on her physical appearance by ignorant bigots) that has struck me, much more than the 2 isolated incidents that have occurred in a 20 year span.
The facts are simple: Serena and Sharapova have both been tested and only one of them has tested positive for a banned substance. Serena has not and until she does I am willing to give her the same benefit of the doubt that I gave Sharapova before she tested positive (I mean... did you not wonder how such a slight person was able to hit so hard???).
19
Indeed. You only have to look at the almost daily news about 2012 London Olympic athletes being banned for failing tests that only now can identify what they took back then
1
Can you prove that..!!
The vitriol here is mostly due the fact that Sharapova is pretty and gasp, gets bigger endorsement deals than homely Serina.
Well ladies and gentlemen, sports is entertainment. In the Olympics, which women's sports get the most viewers? Figure skating, gymnastics, diving, beach volleyball, running events. These all require the women to wear barely anything, with the networks picking the prettiest competitors for their profiles (which they do for female viewers who like the backstories).
Can any of you name a world-class female shot-putter? How about weight lifter? What about badminton players (who wear loose shorts and t-shirts), wrestlers or boxers?
If we were equally interest in athletic achievement, we would gravitate to sports with the prettiest outfits on television. 'nuff said.
Well ladies and gentlemen, sports is entertainment. In the Olympics, which women's sports get the most viewers? Figure skating, gymnastics, diving, beach volleyball, running events. These all require the women to wear barely anything, with the networks picking the prettiest competitors for their profiles (which they do for female viewers who like the backstories).
Can any of you name a world-class female shot-putter? How about weight lifter? What about badminton players (who wear loose shorts and t-shirts), wrestlers or boxers?
If we were equally interest in athletic achievement, we would gravitate to sports with the prettiest outfits on television. 'nuff said.
14
Thank you sir, for saying what I did not have the courage to do!
1
Yes, Maria is beautiful. But to call Serena homely? Are you blind? She is quite pretty.
22
2 old sayings leap to mind:
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
There's no accounting for taste
It all is rather subjective
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
There's no accounting for taste
It all is rather subjective
Maybe the confusion was that she thought ban started at the Chinese New Year in February
2
There's "being very upfront" and then there is getting caught. The article mentioned Maria's "health issues." Mildronate is used in treating angina, heart attacks and heart failure. I guarantee she doesn't have any of those. Interesting that she is the "seventh athlete to test positive for the drug this year." Probably all seven have the same doctor and the same "health issue." I'm just sayin.
300
Since the drug is only available to east Europeans, I'll suspect it's the Russian version of WADA... "We'll all dope athletes..."
...almost certainly taken to improve blood flow to organs under stress, such as during extreme exercise (and as can occur in bona fide diabetes - although not approved for this in Western countries)...many Eastern bloc athletes have been busted. Must have all had a magnesium deficiency...sad thing is that it probably had no effect on performance. The even sadder thing is the attitude that is beneath it - win at all costs and do whatever it takes. Plus grunt a lot. Loudly.
3
Can you really guarantee she doesn't have a heart condition.
What makes you so sure.
Do you think that athletes can not have heart problems.
They can especially if there is a family history of having heart problems.
I'm just saying.
What makes you so sure.
Do you think that athletes can not have heart problems.
They can especially if there is a family history of having heart problems.
I'm just saying.
She gets credit for coming clean. She gets no credit for not being clean.
9
Why are so many comments about Serena and not about the extent to which meldonium is seriously performance enhancing, whether she took it knowingly, how she owned up to it versus the Lance Armstrong strategy of denials and appeals, etc. A tennis fan can like Maria Sharapova over Serena Williams without being a racist watching the great white hope. Minus the rotator cuff injuries and the serve that has never been the same, it could have been one of the great rivalries in sport. She did win 5 grand slams and 35 singles titles. Why the haters?
27
David,
In their minds, only a racist could root for Maria over Serena! Isn't it obvious? How could one not love and fawn over her? Racism!
In their minds, only a racist could root for Maria over Serena! Isn't it obvious? How could one not love and fawn over her? Racism!
Well, usually ATHLETIC TALENT and SUPERIORITY IN YOUR SPORT wins and towers above all - that's unless you're white, blonde and "beautiful". Give me a break. So yes, it is the great white hope thing playing itself on an endless loop!! Some folks are just in denial on this. Oh well.
6
I can't believe this was the subject of a breaking news alert, as though Sharpova had engaged in a Lance Armstrong-type cover-up of doping. She didn't even alter her conduct -- someone decided her medicine should be added to a list. I feel bad that she has had to issue mea culpas for basically not reading a list.
19
According to wikipedia "Meldonium can increase 'physical work capabilities'".
So, how many athletes across all sports are taking meldonium? My guess is a lot.
So, how many athletes across all sports are taking meldonium? My guess is a lot.
5
Yes it has been common in the Eastern Europe for a decade. And it was well know as it was NOT a banned substance. So all these athletes have been using it openly. Of course Sharapova should have stopped this year as it was added to the banned list.
3
ALL sports, including faux sports, that for some reason are included in the Olympics (which is another sham and scam altogether) should be banned. The athletes participating in sports are simply children and youngsters who never grew up. They have never accepted nor taken on the responsibilities of adulthood. These so-called athletes, athletic celebrities, et.al. have no knowledge or expertise at leading a normal, everyday life that includes an everyday job, paying bills, dealing with the hassles of municipal and other level bureaucracies. These "athletes" don't have to drive themselves, dress themselves, feed themselves, etc. They are essentially overgrown babies who are coddled, nannied, toilet trained, driven about, flown about, and told how to pose for the cameras and make believe that they enjoy interacting with fans or the public in general.
The athletes with any kind of medical or health problem have no clue or idea what is it to try to get a doctor's appointment -- in a timely manner or otherwise. They are not asked for insurance; they do not have to wait in waiting rooms for hours on end. They are not bounced around a failed health care system in America in which a patient has to sign their name away just to get someone to fax something to someone else.
The entire sports world is bogus & filled with pampered, selfish individuals who could not do a day's real work in any profession, service, craft, trade or industry that actually helped humanity.
The athletes with any kind of medical or health problem have no clue or idea what is it to try to get a doctor's appointment -- in a timely manner or otherwise. They are not asked for insurance; they do not have to wait in waiting rooms for hours on end. They are not bounced around a failed health care system in America in which a patient has to sign their name away just to get someone to fax something to someone else.
The entire sports world is bogus & filled with pampered, selfish individuals who could not do a day's real work in any profession, service, craft, trade or industry that actually helped humanity.
5
LOL, tell us how you really feel about sports, why don't you ;)
6
You must be great fun at parties.
8
Enlighten us O great one! How do you know this? We're you a pampered world class athlete?
2
You think that's the cause of all the screaming? She's certainly not my hero. Got to turn the sound of when she's playing.
7
Your approach (turning the volume down) is much better than saying "she needs to stop grunting" and "develop some basic manners" like other commenters have said.
We need more people like you that accept people as they are instead of trying to change them simply because the don't like some aspect of their steez.
We need more people like you that accept people as they are instead of trying to change them simply because the don't like some aspect of their steez.
2
I believe the purpose of the screaming and grunting was to make it difficult for your opponent to hear your racket striking the ball. Apparently, a good player can tell a lot about how the ball will be returned by how it sounds coming off the racket.
5
It is ambiguous as to when meldonium was added to the prohibited list. In one paragraph the article states that it was added this year while in another it states that WADA included on the list last fall. This could be a case of overlap and oversight due to the uncertainty of the drug's legal status. In any case, kudos to Ms. Sharapova for owning up and admitting this.
9
All us armchair 12 oz beverage heavy lifters seem to be the experts about knowing what drugs enhance and what drugs don't, what drugs with multiple names are banned by using just one name and why you must have a multi thousand dollar support team just to make sure you are drug free from an ever changing, ever growing banned list of drugs, some of which are many years old but just know being banned.
Maybe Sharapova was in error in good faith and maybe she wasn't. I don't really care. She lost the match in question. She has come forward, she has admitted the deed and provided a plausible explanation (on the surface at least) which is more than most, especially in baseball. Her explanation can likely be validated with a couple of RX checks and billing statements and historical records from her family physician if she agrees to allow him or her to release them. Let the evidence be pursued by those who are interested enough to care and who can then get on their soapboxes with a little more substance and a little less substance abuse.
What I find interesting is that this information is coming to the attention of the public and Sharapova from the ITF so long after the fact. That is what I think seems suspect. Why so long after the fact? I can only think of one thing causing delays of over a month, once the lab tests are taken.
It is the politics of Sports. Like our party politics has done to government, it is no longer about sport and fair play. Its about the Money.
Maybe Sharapova was in error in good faith and maybe she wasn't. I don't really care. She lost the match in question. She has come forward, she has admitted the deed and provided a plausible explanation (on the surface at least) which is more than most, especially in baseball. Her explanation can likely be validated with a couple of RX checks and billing statements and historical records from her family physician if she agrees to allow him or her to release them. Let the evidence be pursued by those who are interested enough to care and who can then get on their soapboxes with a little more substance and a little less substance abuse.
What I find interesting is that this information is coming to the attention of the public and Sharapova from the ITF so long after the fact. That is what I think seems suspect. Why so long after the fact? I can only think of one thing causing delays of over a month, once the lab tests are taken.
It is the politics of Sports. Like our party politics has done to government, it is no longer about sport and fair play. Its about the Money.
9
I'd like to know if her "family doctor" is based in the US or Russia.
3
Yea, knowing facts about doping -- the new spectator sport.
1
While never one of my select favorite players, I respect what Sharapova has accomplished and I don't feel compelled to kick her when she's down or make a judgement of "case closed" as there could be more to the whole story.
Whether her remarks today were genuine or just a preemptive attempt to protect the brand that her name has become, I think it was the wise move either way. When Marin Cilic tested positive, he too took responsibility while at the time providing a plausible explanation of how he wasn't attempting to cheat rather than attempt to blame everyone else like Victor Troicki did when he violated the rules. Cilic was back playing within months while Troicki did the entire two year ban.
Sharapova, a household name and a proven ticket seller, despite showing a level nowhere near her peak the last 9 months, probably has more leverage over a WTA currently saddled with a top 20 full of no-names and far less accomplished younger players. It wouldn't surprise me if she spent even less time away than Cilic did.
Whether her remarks today were genuine or just a preemptive attempt to protect the brand that her name has become, I think it was the wise move either way. When Marin Cilic tested positive, he too took responsibility while at the time providing a plausible explanation of how he wasn't attempting to cheat rather than attempt to blame everyone else like Victor Troicki did when he violated the rules. Cilic was back playing within months while Troicki did the entire two year ban.
Sharapova, a household name and a proven ticket seller, despite showing a level nowhere near her peak the last 9 months, probably has more leverage over a WTA currently saddled with a top 20 full of no-names and far less accomplished younger players. It wouldn't surprise me if she spent even less time away than Cilic did.
31
The drug testing bodies have been watching this medication for years and finally decided to ban it because it was showing up in too many competitors' urine samples. Not that many elite athletes under the age of 30 have angina or cardiac ischemia. It clearly has the reputation of increasing stamina, either in training or for competition. Sharapova admitted to taking a medication for 10 years that she is unlikely to need from a medical standpoint. Whether it was banned before this year or not, it still sounds like she was cheating all that time.
34
There are other "off label" uses that are medical in nature and not tantamount to cheating or enhancing one's performance. Wikipedia ain't gonna tell you what a doctor knows.
Example: Buspar (antianxiety med) is useful in treating ED due to its effects on the serotonin dopamine balance in the brain -- but you're going to be hard-pressed to find that info online!
Example: Buspar (antianxiety med) is useful in treating ED due to its effects on the serotonin dopamine balance in the brain -- but you're going to be hard-pressed to find that info online!
1
Did you notice the letters after my name?
7
Makes Serena look even more admirable because she can last so long at that high level. Serena is older, stronger(a little too overbuilt) but has kept injury-free for a good amount of time. Sharapova was always a little over-concerned with her swimsuit body, staying thin and that hurts a lot of these "looker"players who have a bigger career pimping candy, Nikes and stuff. I think if Sharapova hit the weights she would be a lot more resilient. NIKE will get her off anyway-as she means $$$$ for them. Just like Nike bought USATF, they will crush the Tennis Oversight committee to smithereens if they don't take her "word" for it
6
That's because Sherapova was a girl first, and a professional tennis player second. Maybe remembering that she's a girl first is her way of staying grounded.
1
To be frank, I am not a Sharapova fan. However, I do think she made a mistake. The only thing this announcement has made me think about is the state of her health. I am concerned about the sickness that she is suffering, because not only has she been using the same medicine for a decade, but the symptoms have not been alleviated. Seriously, 10 years is a long time to suffering a condition.
3
a performance enhancer, 'Melodium' helps the heart go pitty pat, pitty pat without a hitch of ischemia or other issues due to overstress, exertion and actual muscle building distractions. ummm, considering her overall capacity and history of injuries, she has done remarkably well for a woman of her stature. it does seem rather sketchy why this well known drug was suddenly added to the banned list, as it has been on the market since the mid 1970's.
7
Classy press statement. Many could learn from watching or reading it.
21
Even the "ugly carpet" comment? Sure the hotel loved to hear that one!
3
What an amazing announcement--adult, sophisticated, mature, no excuses, no bombast, intelligent, heartfelt. MS has my vote for president.
10
It's time to end this farce of trying to stop adults from doing what they like with their own bodies. If they want to take prescribed drugs, why not?
Of course the arguments against my case are 1) It's an unfair advantage and 2) It's bad for their health. These arguments do not hold water. Pro athletes can and will find unfair advantages such as better equipment, the best trainers money can buy, high altitude training, special diets and even surgeries - Why are PED's singled out? And as to their health - Pro sports are terrible for peoples health. Ms Sharapova can expect bad knees and elbows as she ages, and we know about Football players - if we wanted to protect their health we would stop them from training incessantly and playing.
In reality pro-sports are just tawdry entertainment the result of which is irrelevant, other than who gets a bigger share of the obscene money, and this pretending to care about fairness and players' welfare is just that - pretending. No one really does.
We should just stop testing and sit back and enjoy the show.
Of course the arguments against my case are 1) It's an unfair advantage and 2) It's bad for their health. These arguments do not hold water. Pro athletes can and will find unfair advantages such as better equipment, the best trainers money can buy, high altitude training, special diets and even surgeries - Why are PED's singled out? And as to their health - Pro sports are terrible for peoples health. Ms Sharapova can expect bad knees and elbows as she ages, and we know about Football players - if we wanted to protect their health we would stop them from training incessantly and playing.
In reality pro-sports are just tawdry entertainment the result of which is irrelevant, other than who gets a bigger share of the obscene money, and this pretending to care about fairness and players' welfare is just that - pretending. No one really does.
We should just stop testing and sit back and enjoy the show.
5
Amen, although maybe the right approach is to ban only a few obvious substances rather than engaging in the "space race" of what sport can ban the most PEDs.
All sports heroes do drugs. That's reality.
2
From what I can deduce, Maria acted properly and I certainly commend her for that. Integrity is an asset because Maria will never have to face the later credibility issues avoided by just laying the cards on the table. This approach is also more respectful to those of Maria's competitors who may have realized different match outcomes, but for her doping. One thing is clear: if Maria wasn't taking the drug for a clinically-diagnosed illness, she was enhancing her performance illegally.
5
Nothing like a little negative news to bring out all the internet demon chatter. The situation seems innocent enough to me. I don't judge her.
7
boo radley: She said the drug's name is Meldonium and had been prescribed by a doctor for a magnesium deficiency and added that there is a family history of diabetes. She said the drug was not on the banned list for the last 10 years but as of Jan. 1 the rules changed. Source: USA TODAY
Just to be clear, the "Jan 1. rule change" was announced in September (see the second hyperlink in the NYT article).
Just to be clear, the "Jan 1. rule change" was announced in September (see the second hyperlink in the NYT article).
2
And if you have a magnesium deficiency, the normal treatment is to take magnesium!! Who do these people really think they are kidding here?
9
I don't understand why so many people are bringing up Serena Williams. This article is about the fact that Maria Sharapova tested positive for a banned substance. That test was administered by the International Tennis Federation, the same organization that, presumably, would test Serena Williams. And, had Ms. Williams tested positive, she would no doubt be the subject of this article. It seems a waste of time to speculate about how the coverage might have been different had another player tested positive. This is one player, one very specific incident. What ifs or imagine ifs have no place in a news story.
6
I disagree. Given the rough ride that Serena Williams has had, the unsubstantiated whispering campaign about performance enhancing drugs that she has faced, it is perfectly legitimate for those who have been following her story to point out that had this been Serena, she would not get any benefit of the doubt - the internet would have exploded with the nastiest of comments! Sorry, but it is true!
18
Funny, how the supposed attacks that you project on others are exactly what you and many other Serena backers are doing to Sharapova.
1
Well, clearly, you have the advantage of a crystal ball. But it does not look as if Ms. Sharapova is getting the benefit of the doubt. The fact that she failed a doping test has been made public.
2
Maria clearly says that she began taking the drug for health reasons, but then goes on to say that she takes responsibility for her failed drug test, thus acknowledging that there was probably no reason to continue taking it. Whether or not this is performance-enhancing, I am glad that she has taken the responsibility and acknowledged the basic facts (there are many athletes who denied this only to be forced acknowledge it at a later date). And I am sure she is not the only one out there taking drugs which may be performance enhancing.
It also strikes me as ironic that there are those who say that this would have been treated very differently if the person in question was Serena, and at the same time, dismiss Russian sports as corrupt. I think there is plenty of doping happening in US professional sports, whether we're aware of it or not.
It also strikes me as ironic that there are those who say that this would have been treated very differently if the person in question was Serena, and at the same time, dismiss Russian sports as corrupt. I think there is plenty of doping happening in US professional sports, whether we're aware of it or not.
48
It is happening and we are all aware of it. Stop watching sports. These people are paid too much to do unimportant things.
2
Oh please. Stop trying to conflate the absolute horrific treatment by the press and others if this was Serena to the overall doping situation.
By now calls would have been made to strip Serena of all her titles, self congratulatory pats on the back for their confirmation that Serena was doing drugs, the repeated name calling - especially thug- and of course more discussion of her unnatural body.
By now calls would have been made to strip Serena of all her titles, self congratulatory pats on the back for their confirmation that Serena was doing drugs, the repeated name calling - especially thug- and of course more discussion of her unnatural body.
1
Well, years ago, Victor Conte, disgraced former owner of PED Lab, BALCO, stated ON CAMERA that he "worked with" Maria Sharapova! He NEVER worked with CLEAN, NATURALLY hard-working, amazingly highly-skilled Serena.
What is really "ironic" is that all the rabid bigots TRYING to point fingers at the Naturally hard-working Williams Sisters either ignored or were stupidly unaware of the fact that another Eastern European woman tennis pro, Sesil Karatantcheva, was Banned from tennis for PED use. And that Sesil Karatantcheva, PED cheat, while JUICED to the GILLS, "beat" a CLEAN, NATURALLY hard-working, amazingly highly-skilled Williams Sister whose Official Ranking UNFAIRLY Fell as a result! Shaking my head.
Maybe Sharapova is telling the truth, but we all know that if Serena were in the same situation, crazed racists would not have given her the benefit of the doubt. Just as we all know that if Tom Brady cheating before the Superbowl by deflating balls had been Cam Newton, RG III, etc. all HECK would have broken loose. And if Peyton Manning cheating by ordering steroids before the LAST Superbowl were not a White Quarterback but a BLACK one the bigots on the Internet would Still be on FIRE!
What is really "ironic" is that all the rabid bigots TRYING to point fingers at the Naturally hard-working Williams Sisters either ignored or were stupidly unaware of the fact that another Eastern European woman tennis pro, Sesil Karatantcheva, was Banned from tennis for PED use. And that Sesil Karatantcheva, PED cheat, while JUICED to the GILLS, "beat" a CLEAN, NATURALLY hard-working, amazingly highly-skilled Williams Sister whose Official Ranking UNFAIRLY Fell as a result! Shaking my head.
Maybe Sharapova is telling the truth, but we all know that if Serena were in the same situation, crazed racists would not have given her the benefit of the doubt. Just as we all know that if Tom Brady cheating before the Superbowl by deflating balls had been Cam Newton, RG III, etc. all HECK would have broken loose. And if Peyton Manning cheating by ordering steroids before the LAST Superbowl were not a White Quarterback but a BLACK one the bigots on the Internet would Still be on FIRE!
2
Just a couple things the NYT article doesn't mention:
1-the drug is not approved by the FDA, so no US doctor would have prescribed it. Sharapova's lived in the US since she was a kid -- does it make sense she goes to Russia (where the drug is legal) or Latvia (where the drug is produced) for medical care? Surely there are FDA approved drugs to treat whatever health problems she has.
2-here's an abstract of a study regarding testing for this drug in athletes which lists its PE attributes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
1-the drug is not approved by the FDA, so no US doctor would have prescribed it. Sharapova's lived in the US since she was a kid -- does it make sense she goes to Russia (where the drug is legal) or Latvia (where the drug is produced) for medical care? Surely there are FDA approved drugs to treat whatever health problems she has.
2-here's an abstract of a study regarding testing for this drug in athletes which lists its PE attributes
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
24
The article does say that it's not approved by the FDA. (Maybe they changed it after your comment..?)
Every Russian I know uses homeopathic remedies from home for many things. And yes, sometimes they go home to be treated by a Russian doctor (don't know about Sharapova). Just because living in the US and being treated by a Russian doctor seems silly to you doesn't mean that it's not being done by those that have the means to do so.
3
Hmm. When I heard the press conference I actually felt bad for her, even though I am a Serena fan, I have enjoyed watching her over the years...Then Davenport came out with a "Well poor thing it is hard to keep up with all this doping stuff" and then an article about her talked about all her accomplishments and my sympathy waned.
It waned further the more I read about the stuff she took about how it enhances not only performance, but also helps deal with stress and increased the ability to learn. It is has been shown to be effective for diabetes, and for losing weight, but not really for the other things that she mentioned. Finally another Russian athelete recently tested positive for this.. and that throws up so many red flags.
I really have to wonder if the press would be so sympathetic if it had been Serena or Venus to have tested positive? Both have had many health issues, yet somehow I seriously doubt that the first words out of Davenport's mouth would have been "Poor thing, so hard to keep up with all the regulations these days" and I know for sure that the article would not have been filled with all of their accomplishments. They would have been tarred and feathered.
Anyhow, regardless, it is a sad thing to happen to someone so accomplished. If it really was by accident and I am not so sure about that, her Docs and Trainers should have been all over this even if she missed the memo so to speak.
It waned further the more I read about the stuff she took about how it enhances not only performance, but also helps deal with stress and increased the ability to learn. It is has been shown to be effective for diabetes, and for losing weight, but not really for the other things that she mentioned. Finally another Russian athelete recently tested positive for this.. and that throws up so many red flags.
I really have to wonder if the press would be so sympathetic if it had been Serena or Venus to have tested positive? Both have had many health issues, yet somehow I seriously doubt that the first words out of Davenport's mouth would have been "Poor thing, so hard to keep up with all the regulations these days" and I know for sure that the article would not have been filled with all of their accomplishments. They would have been tarred and feathered.
Anyhow, regardless, it is a sad thing to happen to someone so accomplished. If it really was by accident and I am not so sure about that, her Docs and Trainers should have been all over this even if she missed the memo so to speak.
12
Really? You just can't stop from going there can you?
3
No I really can't because it is fascinating to watch the media falling all over themselves to find excuses for her. But as I said, I do feel bad for her despite all that. It is never fun to see someone you have watched for so many years go through something like this, even if it probably is her fault.
2
Sharapova is a diabetic. That's why she's on this medication -- period.
1
Anyone taking those types of drugs when they don't have a serious reason to do so is dancing with the devil. And to do it when you are in child bearing years is nuts.
3
Money, money, money, money, ........MONEY.
2
Oh, for crying out loud. The doping police have gotten out of control. Three shots of espresso before a game is more performance enhancing than most any drug. Is caffeine the next prohibited substance? Look, these world class athletes endure more physical stress in three hours than the average human being endures in three months. Of course they are going to have all kinds of health issues that require medication. And many of these medications are going to be to relieve pain or to keep the body functioning. Point is, there is a very big difference between steroids, which can increase strength and stamina to an inhuman level, and the medication this girl was taking. Doping is bad. We all get it. But it's time to get real here.
21
This isn't your avg cup of coffee. Rules are rules
4
Serena use her muscle power to win games. Perhaps now those who always call Serena some terrible names would lighten up and give her credit for doing so.
6
Serena's athleticism has never been called into question. It's traditionally been her lack of maturity and sportsmanship, like when she threatened to cram a tennis ball down a lineswoman's throat. In recent years she seems to have mellowed.
3
More excuses to hide your racist vitriol towards Serena. Serena made one msitake in a moment of anger, brought on by years of horrible call re threatening the lineswoman and the white american public is ready to forever call her horrid names.Serena lost millions in potential endorsements from that heat of the moment error in judgement.
Sharapova is now found to be a drug cheat and i bet the white corporate world and public will not make her pay one iota for her cheating behaviour. Let us see how many endorsers she loses as result of this drug scandal? Remember the millions Tiger Woods lost because of his having consensual sex with women other his wife? The standards used by the racist white amerrican public to black athletes as opposed to whites are so diametrically different it boogles the mind. LOL !!!
Sharapova is now found to be a drug cheat and i bet the white corporate world and public will not make her pay one iota for her cheating behaviour. Let us see how many endorsers she loses as result of this drug scandal? Remember the millions Tiger Woods lost because of his having consensual sex with women other his wife? The standards used by the racist white amerrican public to black athletes as opposed to whites are so diametrically different it boogles the mind. LOL !!!
4
But McEnroe gets a pass and has always gotten a pass.
White privilege oozing out on this one!
White privilege oozing out on this one!
1
She's making no excuses. As for those who are asking, what if it were Serena or what if it was Manning, well, it wasn't Serena or Manning. She's owned up to it and handled the situation as well as it could possibly be handled.
Time to move on.
Time to move on.
13
For all we know , TMZ or The Enquirer may have threatened to come out with the doping story and Sharapova wanted to beat the scandal.
How did she get to be highest paid tennis player over Sirenna? And for eleven years???
4
Not by tournament prize money but Through endorsements. Serena is black and doesn't get enough corporate sponsorships even though she has been number one for many years.
4
Have you seen a picture of her? That should answer your question.
3
"Serena is black and doesn't get enough corporate sponsorships even though she has been number one for many years."
So, is there a proscribed minimum number of endorsements that would satisfy you? Better yet, maybe it should be legislated that the number one player, in any sport, receive the most endorsement contracts.
So, is there a proscribed minimum number of endorsements that would satisfy you? Better yet, maybe it should be legislated that the number one player, in any sport, receive the most endorsement contracts.
1
For something as important and potentially career-ending as this, WADA should have sent out letters to all players, with a return signature acknowledging that they've read it. A mere email is way too easy to overlook.
4
Maria is a class act. Thanks for telling it like it is. Wish all athletes did the same.
24
She came clean. Slap her hand. Suspend her until June 1, 2016 and call it a day. (The drug was banned on January 1, 2016). Looking forward to watching her play at Wimbledon in late June 2016.
4
now, she's a doper
4
When did cheating become classy? Have you thought about how her opponents who "lost" to her feel?
5
A Serbian male tennis player was kicked out of the sport for a year because he was given false instructions and he did not take the test at the supposed time (he took the test the next day and passed).
But then again, he was not the great white hope that Maria Sharapova was.
She was supposed to be the foil to tame the intruder Serena. Pity. I guess haters will have to pump another player to counter Serena now.
But then again, he was not the great white hope that Maria Sharapova was.
She was supposed to be the foil to tame the intruder Serena. Pity. I guess haters will have to pump another player to counter Serena now.
5
The male player you refer to is Victor Troicki. He did not fail to take the test at the required (not supposed) time, he refused. He attributed that to a fear of needles.
While Troicki may have been dealt with unfairly (or might not, getting incontrovertible facts has been impossible) his case has zero to do with whether or not Sharapova is some great white hope, or any haters of Serena Williams.
Sharapova handled this professionally, as she's done with her entire career. Like her personality or not that's undeniable. Let's give her credit where it's due, and leave the unrelated rest out of it, eh?
While Troicki may have been dealt with unfairly (or might not, getting incontrovertible facts has been impossible) his case has zero to do with whether or not Sharapova is some great white hope, or any haters of Serena Williams.
Sharapova handled this professionally, as she's done with her entire career. Like her personality or not that's undeniable. Let's give her credit where it's due, and leave the unrelated rest out of it, eh?
4
Skip,
The race baiters are out in full force today! An article about Sharapova, and all they can do is drag Serana and Venus Williams and their perceived slights into it. Pathetic.
The race baiters are out in full force today! An article about Sharapova, and all they can do is drag Serana and Venus Williams and their perceived slights into it. Pathetic.
2
Head in sand. Too bad.
2
My favorite line is when she says she wouldn't be announcing her retirement in a downtown LA hotel with fairly ugly carpeting!
8
Yep - class!!! LOL!
4
She'll never win anything as long as Serena's on the tour. Good time to end career.
3
When your career depends on this knowledge, the "did not pay attention" excuse sounds very weak. Is there a system where doctors of record get updated information in advance so that prescriptions to un-banned items can be used as substitutes. This does not seem like a real problem to professionals and their medical staffs, and so all the failure-to-notice excuses seem weak and in most cases deserve to be disregarded.
15
Why is it weak if she's correct that the prescription she was taking was under a different name? So far no one's contradicted that and she takes the blame, besides saying (subject to verification, admittedly) that she's been taking it *openly* for 10 years. What's weak about that? Full disclosure, taking responsibility, explaining the error. What else could we want? Sheesh.
5
What else? How about *not* taking a performance-enhancing drug for 10 years? I've got nothing against the lady, I enjoy watching her matches. But now it turns out that some of those wins - or maybe *many* of those wins would've been losses if she hadn't been on meldonium all those years. Maybe.
I'll give her this benefit of the doubt - if she's got serious heart trouble and needs this medication...fine. It's hard to believe a world-class athlete could have serious heart-related health issues but I suppose it's possible.
I'll give her this benefit of the doubt - if she's got serious heart trouble and needs this medication...fine. It's hard to believe a world-class athlete could have serious heart-related health issues but I suppose it's possible.
2
@skip1515 If you take a look at the document linked in the article you will see that the announcement was dated SEPTEMBER 2015 and the drug is listed under BOTH names. While I admire Maria's fighting spirit this pushes inevitability.
2
Too bad, because she's an incredible talent; perhaps she'll come back to the game sans drug use and sans wailing.....
8
I have now read per the link provided in the story to the prohibited list, that Mildronate /Meldonium was added to the 2015 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) monitoring program. So thhat drug was already on the radar and makes Sharapova's explanation less credible.
14
Unless she really had been using it for many years for its intended purpose. Taking a banned substance isn't a problem if you get a TUE because you use it for a verified medical condition.
3
If a drug that you are taking and have been taking for 10 years is being watched and monitored by the WADA, I find it hard to believe that you or your doctor or lawyer was not aware of that. These professional tennis players can be drug screened 24/7 and they know it. And it is a big deal. She may very well have been taking the now banned drug for the medical conditions she stated. And she may have be able to get a TUE.. Her explanation today was the smart thing to do, just not the most believable to me for the reasons I stated.
4
Why criticize the carpet of the hotel? After all she chose the venue. That was tacky.
9
For years, haters claimed Serena was on PEDs, drugs, dopings, etc etc.
Too bad, it is their great White Russian hope who tested positive.
Not that that will deter haters. After all, they are haters for a reason
Too bad, it is their great White Russian hope who tested positive.
Not that that will deter haters. After all, they are haters for a reason
20
Weird comment. Does this mean you think haters only target Serena. And what is this "Great White Russian hope"? Trolls like you make all sports ugly. Truly if Serena got caught we would all feel bad, but Maria is also one of the greats of tennis. Clearly Serena has her number, but Maria plays with great intensity and competitiveness. Do you have a full roster of tennis players you dislike, I would hate to see your rantings about Azarenka, Mugaruza even Halep. Maybe you could try a different sport.
6
And you are not a hater?
2
7 athletes, all with heart problems! The poor dears!
22
I'd prefer more coverage from the medical and scientific community on just what this drug is, why someone might be taking it, how effective it is for performance enhancement, etc. Conflicting comments on this board do not particularly help a layman like me.
26
Ignorance of the law is never a good defense, although it is a plausible explanation if she is to be taken at face value.
4
Not too surprised to hear that Sharapova is doping. What with her ape-like grunting and all the fuss made over her Slavic blondeness, she's a laughable spectacle even in the sports celebrity field. I'm now recalling the parents of the infantile John McEnroe wondering aloud why people only seemed to remember their son's profane rages and not "the hours of fine tennis."
3
A laughable spectacle? Ape-like grunting?
Wow. You're entitled to your opinion, but this is unkind to say the least.
Wow. You're entitled to your opinion, but this is unkind to say the least.
4
Could you imagine the outrage if such a statement were made regarding Serena?
2
Sounds like it's "a made-up rule" to take her out of tennis events knowing she's been having this for her injuries.
[2016 Prohibited List: Meldonium was removed from the Monitoring Program and added to the Prohibited List.]
Note: If you have a sport-injury, retire immediately, don't use any drug treatments unless you are Peyton Manning.
[2016 Prohibited List: Meldonium was removed from the Monitoring Program and added to the Prohibited List.]
Note: If you have a sport-injury, retire immediately, don't use any drug treatments unless you are Peyton Manning.
2
Although it may not be established as a treatment for inflammation, it's possible she used it habitually as something to reduce inflammation associated with nagging injuries. This could reasonably be considered an off label use. The line between off label use and an unfair advantage is needless to say, blurry. That she treated the news so seriously is a good example for everyone involved--very professional! I find this laudable on the whole.
18
Funny...I hate to say it but so many people are giving her a pass for this cause she says Meldonium just got put on the banned list and she didn't know. That's the same exact thing her compatriot, the Russian skater, said TODAY as well when she got caught. I'm not saying there is a definite connection and maybe she does have heart/diabetes issues. But I can guarantee you this....most of you who are giving her a pass would be crapping all over Serena if she had come out with the same story....people would be on social media also calling her the N word, a monkey, and all sorts of other ugly things....sad double standard here.
83
Absolutely they would come for Serena if she "didn't look" at the list of banned substances... White privilege/bias has given her a pass for doping..
4
And, if you listen to her, she says that it was her responsibility--that she did not read the update to the list and therefore did not spot it. Sounds like she is taking responsibility, though I must admit that it strikes me as odd that no one in her circle (manger, agent, trainer, doctor) would HAVE the responsibility for keeping an eagle eye on these things so that she didn't.
8
What white privilege? Sharapova doesn't get a pass - she is suspended. Serena got a pass for threatening a linesman with a racket at the US Open. Jeff Tarango was suspended for a year and and four grand slams for threatening a linesman without a racket There is no white privilege here. However, Serena has benefited from reverse racism.
3
If you haven't, listen to her statement. She mentions a couple things that could explain why she was taking the drug. The tennis rule book is HUGE. Sure she is a mega million dollar star, but she is still human and the list of what one can and cannot do is quite substantial. I commend her for admitting to taking it, waiving the B sample test and taking complete ownership. Since it just this year became banned, I don't think this is a case of trying to cheat the game.
21
Meldonium increases exercise tolerance. Better efficiency of oxygen in metabolism.
I really find that all this drug monitoring is crazy--just my opinion. What is done about increased nutrition? Whereas athletes used to eat big fatty T-bone steaks, fries, and take salt tablets by the handfuls top athletes now have their own chefs trained in optimal nutrition. They have personal trainers and masseuses that travel with them. Some have personal sports psychologists too. How is that all legal when the 451st player on the WTA is lucky to buy fast food each day w/o a traveling entourage.
I remember when athletes would show up to "training camp" 40 pounds overweight and barely able to walk/jog a mile. Now they stay in shape 365 days a year with precise workout programs all written up and watched/coached by their own trainers.
How is it "legal" that 16 year old kids are now getting Tommy John surgery as they can afford it? Or that 17 y/os are going to the Manning brothers training camps for QBs? Marcus Mariota who lived down the street from me in Honolulu had his way paid for this QB camp after his father sold their home to get the money for Marcus to go to camp!
Athletics is all such a fraud these days. And the rich just get richer.
Look at Tiger Woods. His dad completely ignored his 11 other children to devote all his time and energy to Tiger. Tiger was playing on military golf courses by age 3! If kids aren't sent to tennis academies by age 11 they have no chance!
I really find that all this drug monitoring is crazy--just my opinion. What is done about increased nutrition? Whereas athletes used to eat big fatty T-bone steaks, fries, and take salt tablets by the handfuls top athletes now have their own chefs trained in optimal nutrition. They have personal trainers and masseuses that travel with them. Some have personal sports psychologists too. How is that all legal when the 451st player on the WTA is lucky to buy fast food each day w/o a traveling entourage.
I remember when athletes would show up to "training camp" 40 pounds overweight and barely able to walk/jog a mile. Now they stay in shape 365 days a year with precise workout programs all written up and watched/coached by their own trainers.
How is it "legal" that 16 year old kids are now getting Tommy John surgery as they can afford it? Or that 17 y/os are going to the Manning brothers training camps for QBs? Marcus Mariota who lived down the street from me in Honolulu had his way paid for this QB camp after his father sold their home to get the money for Marcus to go to camp!
Athletics is all such a fraud these days. And the rich just get richer.
Look at Tiger Woods. His dad completely ignored his 11 other children to devote all his time and energy to Tiger. Tiger was playing on military golf courses by age 3! If kids aren't sent to tennis academies by age 11 they have no chance!
15
Tiger Woods is an only child. He has three much-older half siblings from his father's first marriage. Please use another example to make your point about parental neglect/exploitation.
1
them that has, gets. as mentioned, sports (if you can even call it that) has become a just another multi-million dollar business front for the wealthy to dabble in. where was athletics before media, tv and mass distribution of events? no where, because people were too busy making livings that actually produced goods.
1
"She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
So why doesn't Sharapova say, like many athletes, that she has a heart condition and REQUIRE the drug ? Like taking steroids for a serious infection for 10 years.
So why doesn't Sharapova say, like many athletes, that she has a heart condition and REQUIRE the drug ? Like taking steroids for a serious infection for 10 years.
7
One of the side effects of the drug is uncontrolable grunting.
30
That would be a legitimate reason for banning a substance!
4
Imagine the comments here (and everywhere) if it was Serena...
8
What else is new in sports? Any athlete who is among the very frequent winners for years has either been caught doping or just hasn't been caught yet, but they are still doing it. Not only did Maria not read the email, but her doctor and trainer allegedly didn't read the current list of banned substances either. Of course the list has to expand every year as elite athletes try new ways to game the system and scientists find ways to test for them. Anyone who is surprised by this revelation should watch out for bridge salesmen.
3
In olden times, the term "sport" referred to torturing animals - now sport seems to be about the pain and suffering of high paid performers, and their pharmacological dabbling.
The endless talking about performance enhancing drugs does nothing more than encourage high school athletes to use these dangerous drugs - certainly, we have not stamped out their usage.
Who care what these highly paid professionals put into their bodies - the ban should be on talking about it.
Perhaps then, we could get back to, say, the 1930's, when sport was about stunning performances and graceful moves, and kids thought it all came from eating Wheaties.
The endless talking about performance enhancing drugs does nothing more than encourage high school athletes to use these dangerous drugs - certainly, we have not stamped out their usage.
Who care what these highly paid professionals put into their bodies - the ban should be on talking about it.
Perhaps then, we could get back to, say, the 1930's, when sport was about stunning performances and graceful moves, and kids thought it all came from eating Wheaties.
5
It used to disgust me when I heard a story of a professional athlete or organization caught cheating. But that was in the past.
For some time now, I've laughed at sports stories like Sharapova's (and A-Rod's, Armstrong's, ad infinitum) -- just as I've laughed about the ethically challenged loony birds of politics (Spitzer, Edwards, ad infinitum), and economics (Madoff, Enron, ad infinitum). From past to present to future, these halfwits -- who are either too stupid to realize they'll get caught, or couldn't care less -- give fresh new meaning to the idea of "civilization."
For some time now, I've laughed at sports stories like Sharapova's (and A-Rod's, Armstrong's, ad infinitum) -- just as I've laughed about the ethically challenged loony birds of politics (Spitzer, Edwards, ad infinitum), and economics (Madoff, Enron, ad infinitum). From past to present to future, these halfwits -- who are either too stupid to realize they'll get caught, or couldn't care less -- give fresh new meaning to the idea of "civilization."
5
Too bad her last name's not Manning, then there'd be no coverage of this.
11
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
Mildronate is widely acknowledged as performance-enhancing. It seems far-fetched (to say the least) that MS was taking it for any other reason. The legislation has caught up to her cheating.
Mildronate is widely acknowledged as performance-enhancing. It seems far-fetched (to say the least) that MS was taking it for any other reason. The legislation has caught up to her cheating.
106
I can't see the data on this article (unless I pay $30). Do you see scientific data on the evidence?
1
ks: if you're in the medical science field, why don't you have access to pubmed articles?
Anyway it references these two articles:
Z. Kakhabrishvili, N. Chabashvili, V. Akhalkatsi, T. Skhirtladze,
T. Chutkerashvili. Mildronate effect on physical working capacity
among highly qualified judokas. Ann. Biomed. Res. Edu. 2002, 2, 551
M. Dzintare, I. Kalvins. Mildronate increases aerobic capabilities of
athletes through carnitine-lowering effect. Curr. Issues New Ideas Sport Sci. 2012, 5, 59.
Anyway it references these two articles:
Z. Kakhabrishvili, N. Chabashvili, V. Akhalkatsi, T. Skhirtladze,
T. Chutkerashvili. Mildronate effect on physical working capacity
among highly qualified judokas. Ann. Biomed. Res. Edu. 2002, 2, 551
M. Dzintare, I. Kalvins. Mildronate increases aerobic capabilities of
athletes through carnitine-lowering effect. Curr. Issues New Ideas Sport Sci. 2012, 5, 59.
2
Well, as you may know, your institution may not have access to some of the minor journals.
Anyway, these two articles are not on pubmed. So I am still not sure if we have scientific evidence for the performance enhancing effect on this medication. I read that they doping agency decided to include it because, it is "commonly" been taken by athletes. I am not saying Maria did not do anything- she did make a stupid mistake, which can risk her career. But, it appears this medication was not even something worth taking for anything.
Anyway, these two articles are not on pubmed. So I am still not sure if we have scientific evidence for the performance enhancing effect on this medication. I read that they doping agency decided to include it because, it is "commonly" been taken by athletes. I am not saying Maria did not do anything- she did make a stupid mistake, which can risk her career. But, it appears this medication was not even something worth taking for anything.
1
She said the drug's name is Meldonium and had been prescribed by a doctor for a magnesium deficiency and added that there is a family history of diabetes. She said the drug was not on the banned list for the last 10 years but as of Jan. 1 the rules changed. Source: USA TODAY
6
How about on the men's side? How effective is ATP at keeping up with newly developed performance-enhancing drugs and with test-cheating technologies?
The ITF and WADA cover both genders.
1
What a shame. Has she no manager, coach, or sports medicine professional who could have properly advised her about this drug? No secretary or PA to go through her emails and flag the important ones?
Tendinitis is excruciating. It has caused me to put down my guitar, knitting needles, chef's knife, and tennis racquet. I hope she finds a solution.
(And what do Ms. Sharapova's woes have to do with Serena?)
Tendinitis is excruciating. It has caused me to put down my guitar, knitting needles, chef's knife, and tennis racquet. I hope she finds a solution.
(And what do Ms. Sharapova's woes have to do with Serena?)
5
I find it very hard to believe that the substances being debated, have a larger impact on an athlete's potential performance than, say, a regular sleep pattern, a training regimen, or a plate full of carb-rich pasta before competition.
Why aren't those considered performance enhancing?
Why aren't those considered performance enhancing?
2
If these drugs are not performance enhancing, then why would the athletes even bother to take them?
Is Meldonium really performance enhancing? I am in the medical science field and searched pubmed and others, but I do not find any evidence that this drug really increases performance of an athlete. I think the reason that this drug is not FDA approved is US is because the evidence of the efficacy in heart disease itself is quite weak. It is not "banned" in US. There are many drug that is available in other countries and not available in US, vise versa. Therefore, the evidence that this drug does anything to the athletes is not even clear. It appears that anti-doping agency puts meds on the list, even if there is no clear evidence for their effect, but may be just because some people are taking it, which may not be fair to the athletes. So, this situation is quite difference from some of the baseball players, etc, who took those meds which we know the effects.
9
As a Serena fan who has had to listen to all kinds of rumors of her using performance enhancing drugs, I still have always admired Maria's work ethic. I find it ironic that Maria is the one caught in the doping trap. The "optics" are not great and time will tell how this falls out.
10
First of all, she has so much $$ on the line there is no way someone on her "team" is not paying attention to her drug intake. The explanation that she was not aware of the list change is deceptive at best.
Like most of these athletes - the price to pay for not playing far out weighs the risks of being caught taking PEDs. Sharapova is getting out in front of these story to appear honest and innocent - when in reality she took this drug knowingly.
Her image will take a slight hit - but her bank account will not. This drug kept her on the tour and allowed her to play some big events. This keeps endorsements rolling in. She has been taking these drugs for nearly a decade!! For her this is probably $150M in earnings. It was worth it.
This reminds me of Andy Petite. He took PEDs to heal quickly from elbow surgery. The next result was that the was able to sign a $75M contract. He was momentarily embarrassed and apologized - but in the end he made nearly $100M after the event.
In the end, very few people care enough about this to hurt Sharapova. Maybe she'll be professionally embarrassed - maybe not. Given the $$ she has earned I doubt she really cares in the end.
Like most of these athletes - the price to pay for not playing far out weighs the risks of being caught taking PEDs. Sharapova is getting out in front of these story to appear honest and innocent - when in reality she took this drug knowingly.
Her image will take a slight hit - but her bank account will not. This drug kept her on the tour and allowed her to play some big events. This keeps endorsements rolling in. She has been taking these drugs for nearly a decade!! For her this is probably $150M in earnings. It was worth it.
This reminds me of Andy Petite. He took PEDs to heal quickly from elbow surgery. The next result was that the was able to sign a $75M contract. He was momentarily embarrassed and apologized - but in the end he made nearly $100M after the event.
In the end, very few people care enough about this to hurt Sharapova. Maybe she'll be professionally embarrassed - maybe not. Given the $$ she has earned I doubt she really cares in the end.
7
Your accusations are out of line. She has been taking
this drug since 2006. It was not banned then. It made it
to the list since January 2016, All these pre- Australian Open
tournaments start early In the month. Athletes travel
and practice after being off since November. Her
coach and others on the team should have kept track
and informed her. If the doctor prescribed for her
heart and other health problem, she can't
be blamed. Why would any one stop taking a drug
they have been using for the 10 years for certain
ailment. Why can't WDA put info on the website with
the result of scientific study to show effect on performance.
Like other scientific studies it could be scrutinized.
this drug since 2006. It was not banned then. It made it
to the list since January 2016, All these pre- Australian Open
tournaments start early In the month. Athletes travel
and practice after being off since November. Her
coach and others on the team should have kept track
and informed her. If the doctor prescribed for her
heart and other health problem, she can't
be blamed. Why would any one stop taking a drug
they have been using for the 10 years for certain
ailment. Why can't WDA put info on the website with
the result of scientific study to show effect on performance.
Like other scientific studies it could be scrutinized.
2
@SAK, There's nothing out of line. She (among other athletes from Eastern Europe) knows about this substance, she knew EXACTLY what she's doing, using the substance to get a boost. Sure, authority is slow in waking up to the impact of this substance, but wake-up it did, and Sharapova did not stop. She thought she could get away with it, much like Armstrong did. End of story.
3
I notice there is so much sympathy for Maria. Had this been Serena Williams, this forum would be littered with nasty posts.
198
Got THAT right!
8
How very sad but true. Serena or Venus.
7
The sympathy is based on "She (Sharapova) said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues".
1
The fact is, other top tennis players, and other athletes, are very likely to be continuing to take this drug with a "doctor's note." Until we have transparency of theraputic use exemptions, we won't actually know the truth of who is benefitting from performance enhancing drugs in sport.
1
Meldonium is a known performance enhancing drug. It is a heart drug that improves endurance. Unless she has heart failure, there is no good medical reason for taking this drug. Just because it was only recently added to the doping list does NOT mean it was ethical for her to use it for the prior decade, when it was not banned.
29
I think it unreasonable to believe that she, or her manager, were not aware aware of the drugs she was taking and what drugs were banned. She is a professional, long successful, with a competent managerial team. One can plead ignorance, but would a reasonable person find that ignorance plausible?
It is not about the bike...
It is not about the bike...
12
My reading was that she was not pleading ignorance at all. She said that it was her responsibility for not reading the update material regarding newly banned substances.
1
Elizabeth,
I find her assertion not credible.
I find her assertion not credible.
Ugggh, so what? Maybe we should read the list each year to find out what is banned. She is an adult after all. This is so stupid.
3
Six of her fellow woman pro tennis players were suspended this year for using Meldonium. Needless to say, I have no idea, but I find it hard to believe that, given the circumstances, she had not heard it was a banned substance.
She will do just fine without it.
She will do just fine without it.
2
Is that the drug that enhancing in match screaming?
if so, that completely explains her shrieking.
Like Fed, Maria's gig is to appear in as many high profile tournaments as possible to keep her brand fresh in the minds of her sponsors.
Winning tennis tournaments is nice. Winning in business transactions is even nicer. She's the Queen in that department.
if so, that completely explains her shrieking.
Like Fed, Maria's gig is to appear in as many high profile tournaments as possible to keep her brand fresh in the minds of her sponsors.
Winning tennis tournaments is nice. Winning in business transactions is even nicer. She's the Queen in that department.
5
I'm sure tennis is a big part of her life, but it is not Life Itself. And if she has been taking something for 10 years, and if that substance is akin to having to take something for migraines - and it works - I'm certain she has decided that living without pain is something more precious than tennis.
Rotator cuff tears are extremely uncomfortable. I'm surprised she can still play, whatEVER she's taking.
Having a substance banned that keeps you from pain so you can continue to do the work you have chosen to do? That's anguishing in and of itself.
Rotator cuff tears are extremely uncomfortable. I'm surprised she can still play, whatEVER she's taking.
Having a substance banned that keeps you from pain so you can continue to do the work you have chosen to do? That's anguishing in and of itself.
1
Why don't you research the drug first before making excuses for her?
5
This was not a pain medication, read the article again!
4
How sweet of you...weeping for your fallen star...
1
Obviously the ultimate responsibility lies with the player, i.e. Maria, but as Brad Gilbert noted she has a whole team supporting her, including her coach, fitness trainer, etc., how on earth did this oversight (assuming that it was) get passed them?
6
A professional team of amateurs.
1
Quite amusing reading comments from those in support of all things Sharapova; were this a baseball or football player. I doubt the reaction would have been the same.
12
It is not enough for pro athletes to train and compete. Increasingly, they must also be CEO's of themselves as a substantial influencing entity, along with all of the myriad back-office support staff like attorneys, accountants and investment managers. Not reading the legal notice on the new banned substances list is entirely her fault if she's managing the legalities of her career. Seems strange that for such a highly compensated and competitive athlete that she would choose to ignore this.
4
This commenter should know all about "managing the legalities," since in 2013 he was fined $50,000 by the California Fair Political Practices Commission "for his role in a secretive effort to funnel money to a group trying to thwart Sacramento's efforts to build a new downtown arena." This was done in an effort to undermine the Sacramento Kings franchise so Mr. Hansen could further his group's effort to purchase the team and move it to Seattle.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/09/09/chris-hansen-sacrame...
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2013/09/09/chris-hansen-sacrame...
I am mystified by this story. It does not tell us if the drug, banned just this year, was detected in her bloodstream from prior use, or because she took it after it was banned, which would mean she took it a few days after If was banned, as The Australian Open was held in January. If these details have not yet been released, The Times owes it to its readers to indicate this in the story.
11
The article says she's been taking the drug since 2006, for 10 years. The drug tests probably didn't look for the drug until after it was added to the banned list.
6
It clearly says in the 3rd paragraph that it was added to the banned list this year.
2
Why was she taking this drug in the first place? Because the article mentions her injuries in detail, are we to assume that this drug had something to do with her treatment for them? In looking up the drug--which I'm sure the NYT did as well, although did not share the info in its article--I see that it's popular in Russia & other East European countries. Its primary use is as an anti-ischemic, a drug that boosts oxygen in blood...which says a lot right there.
121
It's right in the article. "She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
As to whether you believe her or not, that's up to you.
As to whether you believe her or not, that's up to you.
3
From the interview I believe she implied she was prescribed it and she took it because she was getting the flu a lot.
Lets be clear - this was not an attempt to take drugs and amp up performance for a specific tournament. Maria is a super star in tennis - bigger than Serena Williams - and she is sensible enough not to do anything that stupid. What did happen was that one of many substances that were legal until last year got classified as a banned substance - the governing authorities do this with regularity. When she found out about it - she didn't pass the buck - she took responsibility for it and came clean. Thats what you'd expect a professional athlete to do. People should stop passing judgements after just reading the headline.
36
"Maria is a super star in tennis - bigger than Serena Williams"
... mainly because of her tall, lithe, blonde looks. If being a super star had to do with ACTUAL performance, there is No Way she could be considered "bigger than Serena."
End of.
... mainly because of her tall, lithe, blonde looks. If being a super star had to do with ACTUAL performance, there is No Way she could be considered "bigger than Serena."
End of.
215
@sanket
Why did you bring Serena name here?
This is about Sharapove caught doping.
Then you show your hatred to Serena-a 21 times grand slam,and Olympic champion, by belittling her compare to your favorite Sharapova.
Maybe you are a paid hack, or just a racist bigot.
Either way, you should be ashamed of yourself.
Why did you bring Serena name here?
This is about Sharapove caught doping.
Then you show your hatred to Serena-a 21 times grand slam,and Olympic champion, by belittling her compare to your favorite Sharapova.
Maybe you are a paid hack, or just a racist bigot.
Either way, you should be ashamed of yourself.
70
She is not bigger than Serena. Not in this life time or the next. She does, however, have more lucrative endorsement deals but then again so did Anna Kournikova. Put Maria and Anna's picture side by side and you'll see why.
114
If today's athletes were performing at levels that we have been pretty much seeing for generations (with some allowable room for improvement as a result of advanced nutrition and training), we could have faith in them. But when we see athletes doing things at levels never attainable before, for lengths of time never matched before, at ages never seen before, how can we really have any faith? Of course Sharapova got caught. And if you don't think all the other elite tennis players are doing the same (in one way or another), you're fooling yourself.
Unless, of course, you want to believe that some form of natural Darwinian uber evolution has taken place only for athletes and skipped over the rest of us.
Unless, of course, you want to believe that some form of natural Darwinian uber evolution has taken place only for athletes and skipped over the rest of us.
2
Sounds like an oversight on her part, especially given how recent the switch by WADA seems to be. Still, this is on her manager/trainer/doctor, or whoever advises her on how to comply with drug/doping rules.
The comment on Sharapova not being part of a "master race" is asinine. There is no "master race", only exceptionally talented and physically superior individuals, and they can be found in all "races" of human beings. Sharapova is clearly an example, as are Serena and Flavia Penetta. The fact that they make a living on the pro tennis circuit is ample evidence of their superior athletic abilities, as compared to the average human being of any "race".
The comment on Sharapova not being part of a "master race" is asinine. There is no "master race", only exceptionally talented and physically superior individuals, and they can be found in all "races" of human beings. Sharapova is clearly an example, as are Serena and Flavia Penetta. The fact that they make a living on the pro tennis circuit is ample evidence of their superior athletic abilities, as compared to the average human being of any "race".
4
I searched for the work "master" in the article and comments and only found two hits-- in your comments.
3
Very disappointing news.
1
It would have been helpful if the article had described Mildronate's clinical use and its potential (if any) for performance enhancement.
From Wikipedia, I learned that the drug is used to treat angina and myocardia infarction (i.e., heart attacks); it also seems to enhance exercise tolerance. Since I am guessing that Ms. Sharapova has not had a heart attack or angina, perhaps she was taking it to bolster her workout performance? I am just speculating, as the article should have given us some info.
From Wikipedia, I learned that the drug is used to treat angina and myocardia infarction (i.e., heart attacks); it also seems to enhance exercise tolerance. Since I am guessing that Ms. Sharapova has not had a heart attack or angina, perhaps she was taking it to bolster her workout performance? I am just speculating, as the article should have given us some info.
58
"She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
So all she has to do is to provide medical evidence that the drug is required and have them lift the ban.
So all she has to do is to provide medical evidence that the drug is required and have them lift the ban.
1
She did say she had irregular heart beat.
2
It seems that any athlete taking a "performance enhancing drug", which this is purported to be, should be intimately aware of regulations. Her supplier (oops, Doctor) and her agent should know. This is not pain management, so that cannot be an excuse.
This is cheating. She got caught. Period.
This is cheating. She got caught. Period.
113
Easy there and don't be so judgmental. This particular drug was not illegal until just the beginning of this year. And she said she didn't check the list. If you take her at her word she wasn't cheating she made a mistake. Judge not that you may not be judged.
2
I'm really curious to know what she was taking the medication for- it's for unstable angina and heart failure. I presume it has some other, positive effects on the muscle or cardiovasular systems.
8
It's just another black eye for the simple but complex sport that I love. I'm not a fan of Sharapova however I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.
If the drug was banned by the US and could not be purchased here, was she able to bring it into the US. She's probably going to be out for 6 months.
Lesson learned here. If you're professional athlete and you receive an email with a banned substances list, you might want to open it.
If the drug was banned by the US and could not be purchased here, was she able to bring it into the US. She's probably going to be out for 6 months.
Lesson learned here. If you're professional athlete and you receive an email with a banned substances list, you might want to open it.
4
It's not banned in the US to possess, it's simply not FDA approved. The ban refers to WADA having it on the list of susbtances that can't be in your body without a TUE.
Well - I feel bad for Maria, but puhleeeeeze imagine the comments if this was Serena. Yikes!!
She lives mostly in the US. It is not apporoved by the FDA. It is used mainly throughout the old Russian federation and is a main export of Latvia. Did her doctors here prescribe it or she is using other doctors? Shrug.
She lives mostly in the US. It is not apporoved by the FDA. It is used mainly throughout the old Russian federation and is a main export of Latvia. Did her doctors here prescribe it or she is using other doctors? Shrug.
50
Athletes have common heart conditions; that's why many take this drug, you know, for medical reasons.
The article said: "She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
The article said: "She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
1
Where on earth did you get the idea that it was an "old Russian drug." Maria grew up in the US, trained here, lived here..and her trainer is all-american and understands drugs.
Glad you brought up Serena...the reason Maria was using a drug that helps her body use oxygen more efficiently was to go AFTER Serena who has amazing natural talent and has worked HARD to perfect that talent. Every woman player ranked two through 500 is looking at ways to increase their performance! In an attempt to beat Serena.
Serena is loved in the professional tennis world. Few racists in that world compared to the average commenter here on this site.
Glad you brought up Serena...the reason Maria was using a drug that helps her body use oxygen more efficiently was to go AFTER Serena who has amazing natural talent and has worked HARD to perfect that talent. Every woman player ranked two through 500 is looking at ways to increase their performance! In an attempt to beat Serena.
Serena is loved in the professional tennis world. Few racists in that world compared to the average commenter here on this site.
4
"Few racists in that world compared to the average commenter here on this site.". Well Nuschler, you certainly fit the profile of the average racist on this site!
The rest of the world is so enlightened, and anyone that doesn't love, admire and worship Serena must certainly be a card carrying member of the KKK; the same as anyone the prefers salt over pepper.
The rest of the world is so enlightened, and anyone that doesn't love, admire and worship Serena must certainly be a card carrying member of the KKK; the same as anyone the prefers salt over pepper.
Barry Bonds, Lance Armstrong... And now maybe even Peyton Manning. I could write an entire paragraph of failed 'heroes'. Sports heroes should no longer be celebrated like super humans, the record setters are mostly turning fraudulent.
1
Calm down, folks. It was prohibited only last year. Can't punish someone for things that happened before that.
And I don't see what Serena has to do with this. Serena's been beating her brains out for years now, and they've both said some uncomplimentary things about each other.
And I don't see what Serena has to do with this. Serena's been beating her brains out for years now, and they've both said some uncomplimentary things about each other.
9
makes me wonder what Serena is on if she has "..been beating her (Maria's) brains out for years now..."
2
On her game.
1
Meldonium is performance enhancing and isn't approved by the FDA so she somehow has been getting this smuggled in from Russia. So @Luca, this isn't being 'a victim of changing bureaucracy'. She was using a performance enhancing drug that the world anti-doping agency didn't know about until recently and subsequently banned. While it's perfectly within the rules to use substances that haven't been banned, keeping up to date when they do get flagged seems like the least an athlete could do.
136
If it's not FDA-approved, there's no need to *smuggle* it from Russia; it's not a controlled substance, to the best of my knowledge, so you can pretty much order it online legally.
For example, you may look for phenibut, another Soviet drug with expired patent. It is used as a medicine in Russia; it is not FDA-approved, so it cannot be used as a medicine in US; however, it's not controlled either, so you can go on Ebay and buy yourself a pack of a perfectly legal US-made phenibut, which is actually cheaper in US than in Russia.
For example, you may look for phenibut, another Soviet drug with expired patent. It is used as a medicine in Russia; it is not FDA-approved, so it cannot be used as a medicine in US; however, it's not controlled either, so you can go on Ebay and buy yourself a pack of a perfectly legal US-made phenibut, which is actually cheaper in US than in Russia.
2
I may add, "keeping up to date when they do get flagged seems like the least (a millionaire's team of lawyers and advisors) could do".
18
Thanks for the reply, I stand correct on the use of the term 'smuggled'. I was confused by my own experience with domperidone, which is used as an anti-nausea medication in Europe and is available OTC in some countries or via prescription in others. It has never received FDA approval and is illegal to sell in the US. I see now that domperidone is explicitly listed as a controlled substance while meldonium is not.
There are two ways of looking at things.
On the bright side, since Meldonium was added to the stop list only last year, and since Sharapova have been taking it for a good decade, it is quite likely that she did nothing wrong; there was nothing illegal about taking Meldonium only until recently, and it is understandable that such overlaps happen. Meldonium does not belong to a known performance enhancing family, and thus one may err here on the side of innocence.
On the dark side, Meldonium is not exactly an unknown drug; it was simply largely unknown in the US. Sharapova had no good medical reason to take it for a good decade; what's worse, she took it during her entire career. Her father and coach has very obvious links to Russian pro sport circles, which we now know for a fact to be extremely dirty and prone to performance-enhancing drug use, so there are good reasons to suspect that they both knew *exactly* what they are doing, and that without the wonder drug there'll be no Sharapova the international star.
So, basically, take your sides: you have no reason to be wrong with either one.
On the bright side, since Meldonium was added to the stop list only last year, and since Sharapova have been taking it for a good decade, it is quite likely that she did nothing wrong; there was nothing illegal about taking Meldonium only until recently, and it is understandable that such overlaps happen. Meldonium does not belong to a known performance enhancing family, and thus one may err here on the side of innocence.
On the dark side, Meldonium is not exactly an unknown drug; it was simply largely unknown in the US. Sharapova had no good medical reason to take it for a good decade; what's worse, she took it during her entire career. Her father and coach has very obvious links to Russian pro sport circles, which we now know for a fact to be extremely dirty and prone to performance-enhancing drug use, so there are good reasons to suspect that they both knew *exactly* what they are doing, and that without the wonder drug there'll be no Sharapova the international star.
So, basically, take your sides: you have no reason to be wrong with either one.
180
doesnt matter .. Meldonium or not ..Serena owns her anyway !
13
Wait, when you say father and coach, who are you referring to? Just Yuri singular? Because Sharapova's coach has changed many times since 2006 - I don't think any of them have been Russian.
She also began taking the drug in 2006, two years after she won Wimbledon. I guess I lean more to your 'optimistic' example, because aside from the drug not being entirely unknown in Eastern Europe, that theory seems more of a stretch.
She also began taking the drug in 2006, two years after she won Wimbledon. I guess I lean more to your 'optimistic' example, because aside from the drug not being entirely unknown in Eastern Europe, that theory seems more of a stretch.
Funny, how an article regarding Maria Sharapova devolves into referendum on her and Serena?
Why doesn't she just retire and enjoy her millions? I'm sure she can do other things.
For the same reason you are not a competitive athlete.
She loves fitness, sport and competition, if you did you would not wonder why.
She loves fitness, sport and competition, if you did you would not wonder why.
7
Let's see if she gets a 'pass' for this. We know Serena wouldn't get one.
263
How do you know that?
29
That's for darn sure. Serena would be raked over the coals for this.
6
This is a very thinly veiled attempt to race-bait.
11
Sounds like the ITF are the real dopes...
2
Meldonium improves energy metabolism in the heart muscle cells. Amazing no one on her team kept up with current WADA list. Bobrova, a medal winning Russian ice skater, has tested positive for same. It is now illicit as WADA says it gives an athlete an unfair advantage, and it is performance enhancing by improving how your heart functions, and assists other organs.
10
As long as the mindless masses continue to watch these drug addicts (baseball, football, soccer, tennis, cycling, and hockey) and bellow at the tv screens while they spill their beer in their local bar, nothing will change.
11
Agreed.
You can add contract bridge to your list of competitive sports heavy on chicanery
You can add contract bridge to your list of competitive sports heavy on chicanery
1
Well, we do have to take a break from sipping chardonnay and softly sighing as we read Dostoevsky.
29
George, everyone are drug addicts. Children, politicians, teachers, actors, artists.
2
Athletes need a grace period during which they are enabled to take drugs that help healing. I think the system is behind the times and needs to acknowledge the necessity for some drug regimes during downtime or recuperation. Also, the system needs acknowledge that there will be residual trace sometimes.
5
She was not taking it for a know medical reason
5
She had been taking this drug for 10 years! Is that your idea of a "grace period during which (athletes) are enabled to take drugs that help healing?"
2
TLF: She was taking it for heart issues and other concerns.
Expat: It was banned on the first of this year. So that's two months, not ten years.
Expat: It was banned on the first of this year. So that's two months, not ten years.
2
Unfortunate mistake! But at least she is honest enough to admit the mistake.
4
Anyone who's had that many surgeries is bound to have a banned substance or two bouncing around in their bloodstream.
4
Torn tendons and bursitis are excruciating pains. I have had two joint replacements to repair tendons. I am sorry that her love of the game forced forced her to violate the boundaries of permitted pain control.
Your reading comprehension is lacking. This drug increases oxygenation of the blood, by affecting the heart's performance. It's got nothing to do with pain relief.
9
Fredericka, read the article again: the medicine she was taking was NOT for pain control. It was a substance that directly affects circulation and heart performance. Again, this had absolutely nothing to do with pain control, or her love of the game.
9
She said she had been taking Mildronate since 2006. Mildronate is also known as Meldonium, which was added to the prohibited list this year.
The woman takes a drug for ten years and suddenly it's a banned substance! This banned drug stuff is ludicrous. Read that list of injuries. Considering the injuries pro athletes suffer, it's a wonder they aren't all taking massive amounts of pain killers just to get out of bed each day.
The woman takes a drug for ten years and suddenly it's a banned substance! This banned drug stuff is ludicrous. Read that list of injuries. Considering the injuries pro athletes suffer, it's a wonder they aren't all taking massive amounts of pain killers just to get out of bed each day.
28
Ten years ago Maria had no significant injury. She had just won her first major and was still a teenager. Why would she need this type of drug.
Very suspicious. More believable had the drug use started after some of her major injuries.
Very suspicious. More believable had the drug use started after some of her major injuries.
7
What is your point? The various names of Midronate have nothing to do with the fact it is not used for injuries but for performance enhancement. She was not caught taking pain killers, but a drug which cannot be prescribed in the US. This drug should be given for heart problems which she obviously doesn't have. Even when it wasn't banned she was using it for performance enhancement. After she serves her year or two off, we'll see how well she will play without a drug long known in Russia for its performance enhancing effects.
4
It isn't a painkiller, is it?
"Sharapova said she received an email from the World Anti-Doping Agency in December that noted changes to tennis’s program for 2016. She said that the email including a link to a list of banned substances, but that she did not look at it."
Seriously? Didn't look at the list?
Seriously? Didn't look at the list?
75
Yeah.
Have you never blown through an email because you thought it would say the same thing as the one sent last year, last month, last week? If not, then I have some money that's caught in legal limbo in a Carribean bank that I need your help in getting out. All you have to do is send me your social security number and the name of the bank where you keep your money, and I'll be glad to share it with you.
Have you never blown through an email because you thought it would say the same thing as the one sent last year, last month, last week? If not, then I have some money that's caught in legal limbo in a Carribean bank that I need your help in getting out. All you have to do is send me your social security number and the name of the bank where you keep your money, and I'll be glad to share it with you.
And the list was sent last September!
1
oh she did, but think about it; if you had taken such a drug for a decade and had the belief (probably irrational) that if you stopped you'd slow down, could you stop?
She was addicted - to the drug and, more poignantly, to fame.
She was addicted - to the drug and, more poignantly, to fame.
I hope she works this out. I do wonder about the timing of her announcement. Perhaps the ITF is going to be slow to enact its penalties and she wanted to release the news before they do. She clearly has taken responsibility for her mistakes.
9
She's a fraud.
11
Saying this doesn't make it so.
7
"She said that the email including a link to a list of banned substances, but that she did not look at it."
Seriously? Does she not have a manager or anything advising her on what substances to avoid?
Seriously? Does she not have a manager or anything advising her on what substances to avoid?
224
She can't afford to have someone in her pay do something so exhaustive as read a list? What's the line, ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Live by the sword die by the sword. I wonder if the Aussies ask for their money back. I hope so.
Live by the sword die by the sword. I wonder if the Aussies ask for their money back. I hope so.
5
Pro tennis players, especially the top 50-100, appear to be in constant motion: airport, plane, airport, hotel, practice (repeat sessions), tournament (repeat days), interviews, autograph sessions, massage, meals, meet&greets, etc. They have friends and families, too. These 1-performer sports are more challenging (time, psychology, relationships) than our national sports like the NFL (where there are extensive support systems, copious documentation, briefings, coaches of coachers, trainers of trainers, etc.)
If the e-mail came directly to her, which is what she said, I can't see a pro tennis player wading through an attachment list of complex terms related to pharmaceutical drugs and determining if one of them is a synonym for a drug she's using. Did she make a mistake? Definitely. Is she in a position to know she made it at the time (she made it?) I seriously doubt it.
If the e-mail came directly to her, which is what she said, I can't see a pro tennis player wading through an attachment list of complex terms related to pharmaceutical drugs and determining if one of them is a synonym for a drug she's using. Did she make a mistake? Definitely. Is she in a position to know she made it at the time (she made it?) I seriously doubt it.
1
The advice she gets is probably to not look at it. So she can claim innocence when tested positive...
I'm just extrapolating from the legal advice e.g. software engineers get re copyright law and such. If someone can prove in a court of law that the defendant had a detailed understanding of the law they was breaking, the punishment would be more severe.
I'm just extrapolating from the legal advice e.g. software engineers get re copyright law and such. If someone can prove in a court of law that the defendant had a detailed understanding of the law they was breaking, the punishment would be more severe.
Doping test - smoping test. The only reason I watch womens' tennis is to watch her. I turn the sound off so I don't hear all of the screaming and grunting.
10
They're athletes, not models....screaming and grunting comes with the territory.
5
Your interest in Sharapova isn't excuse enough for her to ignore an email vital to her continuing with an organization she chose to affiliate herself with.
6
Maybe it was the Meldonium. It's known to enhance performance off-court as well...
2
She seems to be more of a victim of a changing bureaucracy than anything else. It must be maddening, both to try to be on top of one's own game, and to deal with the changing bureaucracy of tests, requirements, and whatnot.
29
Things change for many people in many professions. Her excuse is that she ignored an email detailing which substances are banned? Yes, she is a victim. She is a victim of her own self-imposed ignorance.
18
Nonsense, with the money she makes there is no excuse for not knowing what is and is not legal. It should be on top of the list- don't consume illegal drugs. You buy that story? I've got a bridge I'd like to sell you.
17
I seriously doubt she lacks handlers for this task. She pays coaches a lot of money to help her train and recover from injuries. This would seem to be part of their job--assisting with nutrition and health for the circuit.
6
Big deal. Until we realize that paying adults MILLIONS to play sports will drive athletes to push the boundaries of their bodies, healing, and competitiveness we are truly living in oblivion.
The BALCO scientist gets jail time for inventing "the Clear", yet ever 5 mins on television there are advertisements for "low-T" "Andro Gel" for men for low testosterone, presented by muscled men and sexy women. Hypocrites.
paste this (www) into your browser to see when this was not banned -- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
The BALCO scientist gets jail time for inventing "the Clear", yet ever 5 mins on television there are advertisements for "low-T" "Andro Gel" for men for low testosterone, presented by muscled men and sexy women. Hypocrites.
paste this (www) into your browser to see when this was not banned -- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25847280
22
Serena is going to have a field day with this!!!!
5
Why? Please explain, with specifics.
5
I suspect Serena will NOT have a field day with this. What kind of creep cheers someone else's problems?
6
As she should. I hope this wench gets the exact same treatment Marion Jones got.
3
Another of the many reasons, the blonde blue eyed one's, are not exactly the master race! Even on the tennis court... While admittedly, I use to admire her and her game, I was delighted a few years back to see Panatta crush her at the US Open! Yep, those browned eyed gals are way underrated, in more ways than one. Even on the tennis court.
3
First of all, she's Russian, not German. Secondly, it's sad that you decide to bring up any racial issue in the first place.
15
Why do you have to bring "race" to the discussion? Have you seen the pictures of tennis champions? Have you seen how many not blond, blue eyes have taken performance drugs in other sports? So, please, take out the race factor in your comments. It does not belong there!
6
Where did I write , that I think of her, or consider her German?! Duh!
4
I wonder how big the smile on Serena Williams' face is right now...
15
Why should Serena Williams smile? Sharapova is no threat to Williams.
18
What? She has not beat Serena in 10 years.
5
Serena isn't smiling. According to the article: "She (Sharapova) said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
Finding out your opponent who beat you 4 out 5 times (or even 50%) has a heart condition for 10 years wouldn't be good comfort.
Finding out your opponent who beat you 4 out 5 times (or even 50%) has a heart condition for 10 years wouldn't be good comfort.
1
I admire her for being the one to "own" the story and report it first.
33
That was the advice from Lance Armstrong, but her heart condition medicine was only banned this year.
The article said: "She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
The article said: "She said she had been taking mildronate since 2006 for health issues."
1
Yes, but the drug had been monitored for quite some time - it was banned outright once it was proven to enhance performance. And why exactly was she taking it for 10 years - what heart problems did she have? And then, she and all her advisers, somehow contrived not to read the updated banned substance list?? Sorry, this stretches credulity. I think she cheated and was caught.
7
Take away her title. She does not deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8
What title?
16
28 exclamation marks aren't enough to convince me. Maybe 30 or 35. Def 40.
13
Exactly which title would you like them to take away from her? You have absolutely no understanding of how tennis works, of what this medication does, and yet you come across with this brought indictment. My Lord people like you vote don't you ?
4
I love her, whatever the case may be.
9
Are we talking performance enhancing drugs? Or illicit drugs? It would be helpful to know.
8
Both, in this case. It's a pharmaceutical drug that is illegal in the United States.
1
It's used to treat cardiac and circulatory disorders. I don't think it's approved for use in the USA. Clipped off a web site:
Under conditions of high load Mildronat restores the balance between the delivery and the need for oxygen cells, eliminates the accumulation of toxic products of metabolism in the cells, protecting them from damage, also has a tonic effect. As a result of its use of the organism acquires the ability to withstand stress and to quickly restore energy reserves. Because of these properties Mildronat used to treat a variety of disorders of the cardiovascular system, the blood supply to the brain, as well as enhance physical and mental performance.
Under conditions of high load Mildronat restores the balance between the delivery and the need for oxygen cells, eliminates the accumulation of toxic products of metabolism in the cells, protecting them from damage, also has a tonic effect. As a result of its use of the organism acquires the ability to withstand stress and to quickly restore energy reserves. Because of these properties Mildronat used to treat a variety of disorders of the cardiovascular system, the blood supply to the brain, as well as enhance physical and mental performance.
3
The notion that Sharapova is taking full responsibility for her actions is highly questionable. She has been taking a drug since 2016 that is known to have performance enhancing effects and has been used by other althletes for that purpose. Her claim that it was coincidentally prescribed to her for health reasons by her "family doctor" reeks of disingenuousness. So does her suggestion that she did not know the substance became banned in 2016 because she failed to click on an e-mail link. She is a highly successful business person with a multi-million dollar operation. Surely someone is tasked to keeping up with such things for her. Yes, she "admitted to" her mistake, but only after she was caught and the results and consequences would inevitably become public. She was only getting out ahead of the curve so she could manage the story.
7