Meldonium became a substance banned by WADA on January 1, but it is not yet on the PGA Tour’s prohibited list, meaning a player using the drug, which Sharapova said she had taken to deal with an irregular heartbeat but also has endurance benefits, at next month’s Masters will not be sanctioned.
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Sharapova was notified of her failed drug test on March 2 and is waiting to hear what the penalty to her career will be.
The drug was created to help people with heart conditions such as angina and increases blood flow, helps with recovery from exercise and also helps with stress related issues.
Murray is well known for taking the issue of doping in sport seriously, saying that he’s already seen 55 athletes this year that have tested positive for the drug. Obviously, since then you try and read about it and learn as much as you can and try to understand what’s really going on.
Anti-doping officials communicated through email to players before banning the substance meldonium from January 1, with Sharapova testing positive three weeks later.
“You just don’t expect high-level athletes at the top of many different sports to have heart conditions”.
“I think it’s a odd stance given everything that has happened the last few days”.
“The stories like this happen regularly”, he said. Pound has said Sharapova was guilty of “willful negligence” for using meldonium.
Over the years Sharapova built up a personal fortune of about $268 million, thanks in part to five grand slam titles, beating Serena Williams, Justine Henin, Ana Ivanovic, Sara Errani and Simona Halep in finals. Sharapova had failed a drugs test and she ought to be banned.
In the lengthy statement – which begins “As a company, Head has a strict anti-doping policy” – Eliasch explained why the company was retaining support for Sharapova.
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova said: “Of course it’s not great for her. It’s something which we all should know, what we are taking and what we are putting into the body”.
Sportswear giant Nike, Swiss watch brand Tag Heuer and German luxury vehicle company Porsche have distanced themselves from Sharapova. “HEAD is proud to stand behind Maria, now and into the future and we intend to extend her contract”.
“In Maria’s Sharapova’s case, we have analyzed the facts and circumstances in great detail in order to reach a firm conclusion about our association with her in light of her recent announcement”.
Sharapova made her first public statement on Wednesday evening since Monday’s dramatic press conference at which she broke the news.
As the tennis world continues to react to the bombshell development, Rafael Nadal – who has been forced to deny he has ever committed doping infractions – didn’t absolve Sharapova and said tennis is suffering.
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Radwanska said she was in the locker room in Indian Wells with a group of WTA players getting ready to train for this week’s tournament in southern California when she heard the news on Monday.
