Maria Sharapova Doping Update: Hope Ignited for Athlete's Case as WADA Admits Technicality Issues
Following the suspension order placed on Maria Sharapova last month, hope for the athlete's return to the sports world has increased after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently admitted that there have been technicalities in measuring the amount of time that the drug stays in the human system.
According to The Guardian, WADA clarified that the process of knowing how long the banned drug meldonium stays in one's system, still lacks scientific evidence. This means Sharapova's case may still be fixed in time for the Olympics.
Preliminary tests discovered that the drug completely gets out of the system in weeks or even months. WADA said some athletes "could not reasonably have known or suspected" that meldonium was still in their systems after the drug was banned in January 1.
The agency further explained that "In these circumstances Wada considers that there may be grounds for no fault or negligence on the part of the athlete."
The Australian Network News reports that some people in the sports realm have claimed that meldonium stayed in their systems for several months though they have stopped using the drug months earlier. Sharapova, who recently revealed to the public that she has been tested positive of the drug, said she had been taking the medication for health reasons.
The International Tennis Federation suspended Sharapova last month with a disciplinary hearing still on the way. If the tennis star gets her suspension lifted, some athletes who, like her, tested positive of meldonium, could possibly return to the scene too.
Meldonium is a medicine from Latvia. Doctors usually prescribe it for people with heart issues but it is also widely used by sportspeople hailing from the eastern parts of Europe. The pill allows for improved blood flow, which makes carrying more oxygen to the muscles easier. It is also known to improve one's exercise capacity.
Despite the issues that Sharapova is faced with, Russia said it still wants her to be part of the 2016 Olympics, which is set to take place in August.
