How did one of the most respected figures in the world of sport end up receiving a two-year ban? It is a question puzzling many around the world as Maria Sharapova begins to launch her appeal. The world finally knows the verdict of the high profile case, however, there are still many unanswered questions.
Why was it kept a secret?
She is a global sporting sensation, yet hardly anybody in her team knew that the former world No.1 was taking meldonium for 10 year’s. In fact, only three people knew she was taking the drug, her father, her agent Max Eisenbud and a Russian doctor in 2015. When she told Dr. Sergei Yasnitsky about her consumption of the product, Sharapova said that no further questions was asked by him concerning the substance. After 2010 there was no mention of her use of Mildronate in her player records.
“On the evidence of her manager this use of Mildronate by Ms Sharapova was not known to any of Ms Sharapova’s team, except for her father and, from 2013, Mr. Eisenbud himself. It was not known to her coach, her trainer, her physio who was responsible for recommending recovery drinks during and post match, her nutritionist who was responsible for her food and supplement intake, nor any of the doctors she consulted through the WTA.” the report reads.
Sharapova is surrounded by a team of nutrition and medical experts, yet none of them knew she was taking this medicine. For somebody who is a regular user of a certain product, why did she not discuss it with anybody who has an expertise in the area?
Where did the Meldonium come from?
The only thing known is that Sharapova didn’t purchase the tablets online. Apart from that it is a mystery. During her trial, the Russian was unable to produce any packaging or photographs of the box that tablets was contained in, saying that it was destroyed. She was also unable to explain the source of where the tablets came from. Most interesting was that fact it was her father who purchased the items in Russia and no member of her medical team.
Why was there no follow-up on her heart concerns?
In 2005 Sharapova was first prescribed Meldonium to treat a series on health issues. Two of her prime concerns, according to Sharapova, was her family history of heart disease and diabetes. Dr. Skalny, the doctor who treated her in Russia, concluded that she should be given meldonium in 2006 to treat her immune system.
An assessment of Skalny’s diagnoses was conducted by Dr. Ford Vox. Vox noted that no special mention was made in relation to taking the drug to treat her heart concerns. Furthermore, Skalny didn’t request any further test on Sharapova’s heart and he himself wasn’t a specialist in treating patients with heart problems.
“It is important to note that Dr. Skalny was not a cardiologist nor did he advise that Ms Sharapova had a cardiac condition which required specialist medical attention. Having reviewed the ECG results Dr. Skalny did not require a treadmill test or any other standard diagnostic approach, which would have been the next logical step if a significant cardiac condition was suspected.”
Why was a non-medical professional in charge of checking the WADA Prohibited substance List?
It is understandable that Sharapova would want somebody who she trusts to check the legality of her substances. After all, if is one of the most important things for a player. The person in charge of this task was her agent Max Eisenbud.
Whilst the character of Eisenbud isn’t in question, his qualification is. He had never received any medical training and has never received any formal training about the WADA list. Yet, he was in charge of the substance checking of one of the biggest names in tennis.
In 2015 he admitted that he didn’t check the list of banned substances due to a vocation. Eisenbud had recently separated from his wife and travelled to the Caribbean due to ‘personal issues’. He seems to have taken full responsibility, but what about the other members of the team? Why were they not involved? One would assume that if somebody had personal issues, another replacement should be used. In Sharapova’s case, that could of been one of many from her team.
Why didn’t she think Mildronate was important enough to put on a her list of doping control forms?
Between 22 October 2014 and 26 January 2016, Sharapova failed to write on seven doping control forms that she was taking Mildorate. It is entirely plausible that she didn’t because she didn’t think it was important enough. This is understandable to an extent, but why wouldn’t you include a long term substance that was originally prescribed to you by a doctor?
It is unlikely that it was a deliberate way to hide it, but it does question how somebody can take a substance for so long and not have it on any official record for two years. Her response to this was frank but shocking for somebody who was always praised for her integrity in sport.
“I did not feel it was a huge responsibility of mine to write all those medications down. As I said before, in hindsight, this is a mistake of mine. …. I did not feel it was a responsibility to have to write down every single match drink I was taking, gel, vitamin that I was taking, even if I took it once during the last seven days. I did not think it was of high importance.” She said in the tribunal.
What next?
The future is uncertain for the 29-year-old. It is expected that in her appeal Sharapova will empathise that she received below-par information concerning the upcoming ban on Meldonium. The argument is certainly valid, however, the five previous questions might be too troublesome to get her out of this dark cloud.
Who knows what will see Sharapova return to the court, whether it be two years or even earlier. The future is bleak, but there is always hope for the former darling of women’s tennis.
