Sharapova caught on doping, but intends to pursue a career – RIA Novosti

PETERSBURG, March 8 – R-Sport, Taras Barabash. The most titled Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova on Monday announced that its anti-doping sample taken during the Australian Open, the traces of banned meldonium drug found.

At the Australian Open, Sharapova reached the quarterfinals , which gave way to American Serena Williams. After that the Russian has not participated in the official matches, even though it was stated in the Fed Cup match with the Dutch.

“I have to take full responsibility, I can not blame anyone but himself. In the end you yourself decide what to take, “- said Sharapova in a press conference in Los Angeles

” The last ten years I have been taking the drug, which is called mildronat, which gave me a family doctor. a few days after the letter I learned that the drug has a different name – “meldonium” – what I did not know for ten years, he was not included in the prohibited list, and I took it legally, but from January 1, the rules have changed, and. he became a prohibited drug, “- she said

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Career does not end

Sharapova stressed that it would not give up and hopes to continue a career. “Every day I was coming to my work with responsibility and professionalism, I made a huge mistake, let down my fans and all sports, which I dealt with four years and which I love. I understand the possible consequences, but do not want to finish his career in this way and I hope that I will give a second chance, “- said Sharapova.

Russian has won all Grand Slam singles titles and is considered the epitome of Russian tennis. In 2004, at age 17, Sharapova has made a sensational victory at Wimbledon, beating the current top-ranked Serena Williams in the final. This was followed by victory in the US Open-2006, Australian Open-2008, as well as at the most inconvenient for Maria coating – on the ground, “Roland Garros” in 2012 and 2014. Unconquered Sharapova were only the Olympic Games.

The President of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday, “R-Sport” that Sharapova will continue his career and a failed doping test will not affect Russia’s tennis as a whole. “Let it be said that we do not perform at the Olympics is now no threat to the Russian tennis after doping tests Sharapova is no threat Maria continues his career after that…”, – Said Tarpishchev

According to media reports, in fact. if it is proved that Sharapova took meldonium deliberately to improve outcomes, she faces a suspension for four years, if unintentionally -. the two years

meldonium buries the hopes of Russian athletes

Earlier on Monday it was it is known that the Russian figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova (ice dancing) did not speak with Dmitry Solovyov at the world Cup in the US Boston due to the fact that in her doping sample taken after the European championship in Bratislava, the same meldonium was discovered. Thus, within a few hours of Russian sport it suffered a serious blow, and representatives of the sports have suffered, in which the Russians have won medals at the last Olympics.

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Monday, “R-Sport” that Russian doctors should be attentive to their duties. “.. The drug is useless Nothing gives Told: it is necessary to take a closer athletes, doctors, coaches,” – he said,

The Executive Director of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Steve Simon said that he was very sad to hear the news. Sharapova doping test

“Maria -. a leader, and I always knew her as a very honest man, however, like Mary herself knows every athlete himself is responsible for. that does with his body, and should know, it is permissible if it is now the case in the hands of the Tennis Anti-doping program and its standard procedures WTA will support any decision taken in this process “, -.. said in Simon’s statement published in the official account WTA in Twitter

© AP Photo / Felipe Dana

meldonium was added to the list of prohibited substances World Anti-Doping Agency since 1 January 2016 . it is forbidden substance in competition, and in the outside-competition and is classified as “hormones and modulators of metabolism.” Sharapova said in a statement he said that taking the drug even 10 years ago.

“for the first time I was given it in 2006 year. I have both had a few health problems, I was very often ill. I had a lack of magnesium. I regularly took an electrocardiogram. My family has a long history of diabetes, and it is one of the many drugs I took, “- she said

After a positive doping tests Sharapova and Bobrova can only guess who else from the Russians in the near future. time can be caught on the use of a banned substance. Author of doping in Russian sports Hajo Zeppelt films previously said that meldonium was detected in Russian athletes in 724 cases out of 4316 during the investigation in 2015.