The revelation by Maria Sharapova that she had tested positive for taking meldonium was a sad day for tennis with Sharapova’s actions bringing women’s tennis in to disrepute.
For Sharapova to claim that she was unaware that meldonium had become a banned substance since January first 2016 is a cop out and an attempt by the ‘media darling’ to manipulate the situation. It was clear she wanted to turn the scandal to her advantage and pull at the heartstrings of her many adoring fans.
Make no mistake the responsibility fairly and squarely lies with Sharapova or one of her entourage to be aware of what is and isn’t prohibited and what she is allowed to ingest in to her body, ignorance is no excuse.
Why is Sharapova the only Professional tennis player to test positive to taking meldonium thus far? Is she the only tennis player who was “unaware that it had become a banned substance”?
» The Roar’s Joe Frost on meldonium and what it does to athletes.
The World Anti Doping Agency would have surely sent out information to all professional athletes well before January first of the upcoming rule changes related to the use of meldonium. Therefore, the onus was on Sharapova to have checked her e-mails especially as she had been taking the drug since 2006 for ‘medical reasons’, as she has claimed.
It would appear to be no coincidence that Sharapova hasn’t been the only Russian athlete to have tested positive to taking meldonium since it became a prohibited substance.
There are likely to be a number of loopholes found by Sharapova’s team as they desperately try to defend her during the investigation. That being said Sharapova has clearly violated a rule so there can only be one result. Sharapova should face a lengthy suspension and a substantial fine, if not it will be a blatant case of double standards.
Maria Sharapova has tested positive to taking a banned and prohibited substance. If Sharapova only receives a slap on the wrist or a paltry fine, then the integrity of WADA will come into question.
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