Maria Sharapova Suspended for Doping Violation After Testing Positive for Meldonium
Tennis star Maria Sharapova has been suspended from professional tennis after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced the suspension following Sharapova’s failed drug test at the 2016 Australian Open. The suspension has stunned the tennis world, given Sharapova’s status as one of the sport’s biggest and most successful players.
Meldonium, a drug used to treat heart conditions, was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of prohibited substances on January 1, 2016. Sharapova, who tested positive shortly after the ban came into effect, admitted to taking the drug for the past decade under the name Mildronate. She claimed it had been prescribed by her family doctor for health issues including irregular heartbeats and a magnesium deficiency.
During a press conference, Sharapova stated that she was unaware of meldonium’s addition to the banned substances list. “I made a huge mistake,” Sharapova said, “I let my fans down, and I let the sport down.” However, she stressed that her use of the drug was not for performance enhancement, and she accepted responsibility for not checking WADA’s updated regulations.
Initially, Sharapova was handed a two-year suspension by the ITF, but she appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). In October 2016, CAS reduced the suspension to 15 months, noting that while Sharapova had violated anti-doping rules, her error was not intentional.
Sharapova returned to tennis in April 2017, but the suspension marked a significant setback in her career. Despite returning to the court, Sharapova would never regain the same form, eventually retiring in 2020 after struggling with injuries and performance.
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