Sharapova Failed Australian Open Drug Test
Maria Sharapova, the highest paid female athlete in the world — acknowledged on Monday that she failed a drug test at the Australian Open.
Sharapova tested positive for taking Meldonium, a drug she has taken since 2006 for a variety of health issues. But the drug was added to the banned list at the beginning of 2016 and she blamed ignorance for failing the drug test.
“I don’t want to end my career this way,” Sharapova said. “I really hope I will be given another chance to play this game.”
Sharapova said she will cooperate with the International Tennis Federating and does not know what punishment will be handed down.
“I received a letter from the ITF a few days ago. I will be working with them.”
She said she’s taken Meldonium for the past 10 years because she was “getting sick very often, and I had a magnesium deficiency. I also had an irregular EKG results, and I have a family history of diabetes.”
Meldonium has shown to help athletes’ endurance and rehabilitation. The World Anti-Doping Agency formally banned the
drug at the beginning of this year. WADA sent an email on Dec. 22, indicating what drugs would be banned starting in 2016.
Sharapova admitted that she received, but did not read that email.
Women’s Tennis Association CEO Steve Simon sounded off on support for Sharapova while admonishing her for failing the drug test.
“I am very saddened to hear this news about Maria,” Simon said. “Maria is a leader and I have always known her to be a woman of great integrity. Nevertheless, as Maria acknowledged, it is every player’s responsibility to know what they put in their body and to know if it is permissible.
“This matter is now in the hands of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program and its standard procedures. The WTA will support the decisions reached through this process.”
Sharapova, 28, is ranked seventh in the world. Her 35 singles titles and five Grand Slams ranked third among active players behind Venus and Serena Williams.
Forbes says Sharapova has been the highest paid female athlete in the world for 11 consecutive years. The magazine says she made nearly $30 million between June 2014 and June 2015. Less than 25 percent of that was from prize money — most coming from sponsors Nike, Porsche, Evian and Avon.
