Maria Sharapova shocked the tennis community on Monday revealing to have been tested positive to Meldonium in January at the Australian Open.
The Russian had been taking the medicine to help her with magnesium deficiency and also due to the fact that back in 2006, when she started taking the drug, she was facing health problems with signs of diabetes, having a family history of diabetes.
Meldonium fell under WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) in 2015 and has been officially banned starting on January 1st 2016. The Russian admitted to having received an email by WADA with the new introductions to the banned substances list in December, but didn’t click on the link to open the list.
Meldonium is a metabolic modulator that can help athletes in the recovery process, enhancing performances, but which can also be used for a great variety of reasons, including help with blood flow problems. Historically Meldonium has mostly been used to help in curing heart diseases, but the fact that it can improve endurance has pushed WADA to include it in the list for banned substances starting this year.
The former chief of UK anti-doping, Michele Verroken, has told British media that Sharapova faces the ‘possibility of a minimum one-year ban‘.
How long could @MariaSharapova be banned for? Former Head of UK Anti-Doping Michele Verroken shares her thoughts. https://t.co/phnU2sjWBv
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) 7 March 2016
What will happen now to Maria?
There could be different consequences the Russian will now have to face. The fact that the Russian has immediately admitted to the failed drug test taking full responsibility for the matter will surely help her. The fact that Maria is known for her integrity by the ITF and WTA should also help her. The more likely outcome would be a decision to consider the event a mean of negligence and Sharapova should face a 4-month or a 6-month ban maximum. Maria will most likely not be on court for the French Open and could possibly make it back in time to compete at Wimbledon.
The worst case scenario would be that WADA will decide not to consider the event as a mere negligence and opt for a 4-year ban, which would still be admissible for the failed drug test. Maria could then decide to appeal, possibly reducing the ban to 2 years or to 1 and a half years. A 4-year ban would clearly mean the career of Maria Sharapova in tennis would be officially over, but once again that seems the least likely outcome as the current state of things.
It is however possible that WADA could decide on a 2-year ban, which would be severe, but not the maximum degree.
The fact that other Russian athletes, including ice skating champion Ekaterina Bobrova, have now been tested positive too, to the same substance within the past 2 months could also work in Maria’s favour to hope for a reduced ban.
A 3 to 6 months ban so far seems the most likely outcome…
