Photo Credit: Press Association
Maria Sharapova came forward to announce that she failed a drug test at the Australia Open and is “taking full responsibility”. Â Sharapova tested positive for the drug meldonium which is commonly prescribed for issues with blood vessels. Â Sharapova admitted that she has been taking the drug for the past ten years and was prescribed it by a family doctor. Â John Haggerty, Sharapova’s lawyer, has been in contact with the International Tennis Foundation about reducing her punishment.
Sharapova believes that she has a good chance at getting the suspension lessened as this has never been on the World’s Anti-Doping Agency’s list before. Â “It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on Wada’s banned list and I had been legally taking that medicine for the past 10 years,” she said. Â She is currently suspended indefinitely starting March 12th, pending further action.
