After reading through the facts surrounding the Sharapova story yesterday, I have little sympathy for her and feel she deserves some sort of ban.
This drug had been detected in a lot of athletes (1 in 50 tests in all sports according to reports) last year when the drug wasnt on the banned list. That is quite high for a drug which is only available in Eastern European countries and is meant to be for people with heart issues.
In September last year, it was announced that this... drug would be on the banned list the following year. All doctors and patients would have been informed of this.
Keeping in mind that the manufacturers themselves stated that the drug is a short term medication that is meant to be used over a four to six week cycle for heart problems, her excuses about diabetes being in the family seem very weak. Diabetes and this medication are not linked in any way.
For her to be using this medication for ten years tells me that she has certainly been involved in legal doping as I believe she took that medication for enhanced performance and not for a health reason. Her taking this medication last year was unethical but not illegal.
I believe Sharapova was extremely negligent and didnt deliberately try to break the rules. But, I do feel she deserves a penalty. Her team should have known better.
This drug had been detected in a lot of athletes (1 in 50 tests in all sports according to reports) last year when the drug wasnt on the banned list. That is quite high for a drug which is only available in Eastern European countries and is meant to be for people with heart issues.
In September last year, it was announced that this... drug would be on the banned list the following year. All doctors and patients would have been informed of this.
Keeping in mind that the manufacturers themselves stated that the drug is a short term medication that is meant to be used over a four to six week cycle for heart problems, her excuses about diabetes being in the family seem very weak. Diabetes and this medication are not linked in any way.
For her to be using this medication for ten years tells me that she has certainly been involved in legal doping as I believe she took that medication for enhanced performance and not for a health reason. Her taking this medication last year was unethical but not illegal.
I believe Sharapova was extremely negligent and didnt deliberately try to break the rules. But, I do feel she deserves a penalty. Her team should have known better.
