Earlier I posted about Maria's suspension, further reports suggests that when Maria Sharapova called the media to a Los Angeles hotel at short notice for what was billed as a major announcement, many suspected she was going to retire.
What she revealed, may indeed end her career, but not in the manner anyone expected.
Sharapova is likely to receive at least a two-year ban for her use of meldonium, and at least four if the tribunal that hears
her case believes she took it deliberately to enhance performance. For a 28 year-old athlete who has been competing half her life, and won the first of five Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon aged 17, either could prove a career-ending hiatus.
What is already at stake is how she is viewed by the sporting public, and the sponsors who have made her the highest-
earning female athlete for a decade despite being repeatedly eclipsed on-court by the Williams sisters, particularly Serena.
earning female athlete for a decade despite being repeatedly eclipsed on-court by the Williams sisters, particularly Serena.
Sharapova's defence, set out in LA, is that she is the victim of a devastating clerical error on her part.
Meldonium, which boosts blood flow and was developed to treat heart disease, has only been on the World Anti-Doping
Agency list of prohibited substances since January. Sharapova admitted taking it for a decade, but said she failed to click on a link in an email updating her on the new WADA list before Christmas.
Meldonium, which boosts blood flow and was developed to treat heart disease, has only been on the World Anti-Doping
Agency list of prohibited substances since January. Sharapova admitted taking it for a decade, but said she failed to click on a link in an email updating her on the new WADA list before Christmas.
Meldonium was developed in Latvia to treat heart disease such as angina, but it is not licensed for use by the Federal Drug Agency in the US, where Sharapova is based. She said she began taking it to treat a magnesium deficiency, and
because of an irregular heart test and a family history of diabetes. She did not mention any long-term heart condition.
WADA says meldonium was banned because of suspicion it was being exploited by endurance athletes to boost performance.
There is growing evidence that may be true, with women’s 1,500m world champion Abeba Aregawi among a number of athletes reported to have failed tests for meldonium in the last week. But Sharapova is by far the most high-profile, and now faces a fight for her reputation, regardless of what remains of her career.
because of an irregular heart test and a family history of diabetes. She did not mention any long-term heart condition.
WADA says meldonium was banned because of suspicion it was being exploited by endurance athletes to boost performance.
There is growing evidence that may be true, with women’s 1,500m world champion Abeba Aregawi among a number of athletes reported to have failed tests for meldonium in the last week. But Sharapova is by far the most high-profile, and now faces a fight for her reputation, regardless of what remains of her career.
Go and rest, drug addict!
ReplyDelete