World No.2 Andy Murray has become the latest high profile figure to express doubts about Maria Sharapova’s explanation for her failed drugs test.
Sharapova was recently handed a two-year ban by the ITF after testing positive for Meldonium during the Australian Open. Throughout the case the former world No.1 has maintained that she was unaware that the drug was banned and she consumed it only to treat her health issues. In the wake of her sentence, Sharapova has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the hope her penalty will be either quashed or reduced.
The ITF investigation uncovered some questionable factors in Sharapova’s case. One of the most surprising ones was that her agent was in charge of checking to see which medicines are on the banned substance list and not a medical professional.
Speaking about Sharapova for the first time since the announcement of her ban, Murray has maintained his hardline approach regarding doping in sport.
“My thoughts haven’t changed since March,” he said shortly after his win over Nicolas Mahut at The Queen’s Club.
“I do feel if you’re cheating and get caught of gaining an advantage on your opponents, you obviously have to be punished.”
One issue raised in the Sharapova case was that players are not receiving accurate enough information regarding substances added to the banned list. The Russian stated that she was unaware that meldonium was banned. Despite this, Murray has hit back at Sharapova and said her explanation isn’t ‘a valid excuse’.
“To be honest, I don’t really see that as being a valid excuse.” Murray said.
“If you’re taking any medication, it’s your responsibility as an athlete to check and make sure what you are taking is legal.”
Murray isn’t the first player to criticise Sharapova. Another high profile critic was 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer, who said the 29-year-old must be held accountable for her actions.
“It doesn’t matter if they did it on purpose or not, I don’t really see the difference,” Federer said.
“You need to know what goes into your body, you have to be 100 percent sure of what’s going on. If you’re not, you’re going to be damned.”
On Tuesday the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said that they will not be appealing against Sharapova’s sentence given to her by the ITF. The WADA has the ability to campaign for either a harsher or more lenient sentence.
A decision by the CAS will be made before July 18th. If she is cleared, Sharapova will be eligible to participate in the Rio Olympics in August.
