Maria Sharapova

Newspaper the Times reports that Maria Sharapova received at least five warnings that inclusion of Meldonium in the list of prohibited substances. According to media reports, the World anti-doping Agency (WADA) began to warn athletes about applying the product to the restricted list in advance – in September 2015. From 1 January 2016 Meldonium was officially recognized doping.

The publication also said that Sharapova was notified about the prohibition of Meldonium Women’s tennis Association (WTA) and international tennis Federation (ITF).

Maria Sharapova

On Monday, Sharapova at a press conference in Los Angeles said that in her doping sample was found a prohibited drug – Mildronate. The sample was collected in January during a speech at the Australian Open. For his use of the athlete can be suspended from the competition for four years. According to Sharapova, she has taken this drug for many years and did not know of its prohibition.

After recognition Sharapova in the media appeared the news that more and more Russian athletes failed the test for using illegal drugs. Among those who failed the test on a dope skater Ekaterina Bobrova, Pavel skaters Kulizhnikov and semen Elistratov, volleyball player Alexander Markin. The doping scandal has dealt a severe blow to the remnants of the reputation of Russian sports.

On Tuesday it became known that the brands Nike and TAG Heuer has suspended cooperation with Sharapova and Porsche has cancelled all activities involving the athletes.

Maria Sharapova