Maria Sharapova must be rueing the day she chose to go the ‘classy’ spin by ‘fessing up in a March press conference to her continued use of Meldonium after its banning.
The Russian champion’s positive came from a test sample at January’s Australian Open.
Had she instead chosen the old-school ‘deny and bluster’ route, her plight might have received more sympathy in the subsequent confusion about the drug’s so-called ‘half life’, or elimination period. Other athletes who similarly failed WADA’s test claimed they last took the substance before the banning date of January 1, 2016.
Its Latvian manufacturer then conceded very small amounts could still be detected for many weeks afterwards.
WADA was then forced into a difficult situation and it is not yet clear how much grace it is offering athletes claiming the half-life defence. Much depends on the interpretation of a microgram residual scale, which can indicate when the drug was last taken.
Sharapova’s initial statement made no attempt to suggest she last took the drug while it was legal. One of the sponsors which stuck with her, racquet manufacturer Head, made Sharapova’s case worse when it issued its own press conference acknowledging she had continued taking it in oversight after the banning.
Given the hyper-legalist scrutiny of so many performance-enhancing drug positives, which offers even the most bare-faced doper the whiff of a technical or medical defence, it is hard to see any more athletes leaping to a Sharapova-type mea culpa in future.
Subject to appeal, the multiple Grand Slam singles winner will now serve a two-year ban imposed by the International Tennis Federation, after an independent tribunal reduced the four years the federation had sought to impose.
Sharapova insists she never viewed her decade-long use of the drug in a performance-enhancing light, but that it was used to address a magnesium deficiency, exercise-related fatigue, and a family history of diabetes.
WADA had meldonium on its monitored list for some time before banning, alerting international federal sports bodies whenever their athletes tested positive.
Athletes were reportedly alerted to WADA’s pending intention to ban the drug as far back as September 2015.
Whether it’s aces or races, try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp for great odds and a great punting experience. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Former Wimbledon champion, double grand slam winner and Australian Open finalist Garbine Muguruza has announced her retirement from tennis at the age of 30.…
Rafael Nadal has hailed the brilliance of Alex de Minaur, calling him "a great player" after the Australian forced the Spanish legend to say…
The clay season promises to be one of high level and tight margins. With the Monte Carlo open just around the corner, it will…
In incredible scenes, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz's quarter-final clash with Alexander Zverev at Indian Wells was halted abruptly due to a "bee invasion." Less…
Marathon man Jordan Thompson has finally clinched his first ATP Tour title, with the Australian upsetting Norwegian Casper Ruud to lift the trophy in…
Alex de Minaur has earned the perfect 25th birthday present, booking a place in the final of the Rotterdam Open with an emphatic revenge…
