Former world number one, Maria Sharapova has been taking a
drug called Meldonium for 10 years. On January 1st, this year, it
was entered on the banned list – Sharapova wasn’t informed and she failed a
drugs test at the Australian Open.
She’s been taking it since 2006 due to persistent health
issues, now, the five time grand slam champion’s not aware of the sanctions she’ll
face as a consequence. Since Wimbledon last year, she’s only played four
tournaments. This year, she’s only played the Australian Open. She’s currently struggling
with various different injuries but it’s likely this revelation will have an
even bigger effect on her 2016 schedule.
It’s quite a controversial drug – it’s used in Russia and
Lithuania but USA hasn’t approved the drug. Clinically speaking, it was first
used to treat angina and myocardial infarction (heart attacks). It’s also been
known to help treat diabetes and some neurological issues. In her press
conference, Maria said that she’s got quite a large family history of diabetes.
More recent reports suggest that it can improve learning and memory. Weirdly it
might also have an effect on testosterone and men’s health.
As far as sport is concerned – this is a metabolic
performance enhancer. This basically means that Sharapova - amongst the health
benefits she was already taking the drug for, would have an enhanced energy and
a stronger heart muscle. In short – she’d have more energy and be able to last
longer on the tennis court. It also would have had an improvement with movement
coordination and concentration. It also has a positive effect on the energy
metabolism of the body – activating the central nervous system.
At this stage, it’s unclear as to what sanctions she would
face, the ITF (International Tennis Federation) in conjunction with WADA (world
anti-doping agency) will look at various different factors like who gave the
drug to her, was she aware of the effects? Whatever sanction she’ll face she,
and her team have got lot of explaining
to do.
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