Sharapova caught on dope and can miss the Olympics in Rio

Фото: Depositphotos

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova, the highest paid athlete of the world according to Forbes, at a specially convened press conference, admitted that she failed a doping test during the Australian Open in January.

Now Sharapova is likely to miss the 2016 Olympics of the Year in Rio de Janeiro, since the period of disqualification for doping is at least one year.

“I made a big mistake. “I let the fans down, I let the sport down,” Maria Sharapova said at a press conference in Los Angeles. “I know the consequences I face, and I don’t want to end my career this way.”

The seventh racket of the world said that for ten years she took the medicine mildronat prescribed by her family doctor, who was not previously on the list of prohibited drugs.

According to her, from a recently received letter from the International Tennis Federation, she learned that this medicine is also called “meldonium”, and under this name has been included in the list of prohibited drugs since the beginning of 2016. As a result, her doping test was positive.

Sharapova said she admits her mistake and is ready to cooperate with the anti-doping authorities. She refused to blame anyone for taking the drug.

President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev allowedthat Maria Sharapova will still be able to play at the Olympics, despite the failed doping test, but noted that much depends on how events will unfold.

On the Australian Open, Sharapova lost the American Serena Williams in the two-quarter set in the quarterfinals. She then missed the Federation Cup match with the Netherlands national team and withdrew from the Indian Wells tournament.

Sharapova is one of the most popular Russian athletes in the world. She began her career in 2001 year and three years later became the first Russian woman who managed to win Wimbledon. A year later, she climbed to first place in the ranking of the best tennis players in the world.

In total, Sharapova won five Grand Slam tournaments and 38 WTA tournaments during her career. Several times in a row she was recognized as the highest paid athlete in the world. In addition, in 2005, Forbes magazine included her in the list of the most influential celebrities.

Earlier on Monday it became known that the same substance, meldonium, was found in the doping test of the Russian figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova. The Olympic champion of Sochi in team competitions and the champion of Europe in a pair with Dmitry Solovyov have already been barred from participating in all competitions until clarification of circumstances.

In the autumn of last year, a large doping scandal flared up around Russian athletes. The Commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency revealed systematic violations associated with the use of doping by athletes. The Russian national team in athletics is suspended from the competition and may miss the Olympic Games.

Как wrote ForumDailyon sunday german tv channel ARD released on the air a new film, which states that Russia continues to actively use doping to achieve high sporting results. The International Athletics Federation has promised to verify this data.

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