Russian sport has been the victim of another doping scandal loud. On meldonium use the drug, also known as mildronat, which entered the list of prohibited only from 1 January of this year, got perhaps its brightest star – Maria Sharapova. Ms. Sharapova admitted that she suffered through his own fault, ignoring the warning of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The richest athlete of the world is now facing disqualification, as well as financial losses amount to tens of millions of dollars: Maria Sharapova sponsors already claim the severance of relations with it. A Russian sport because meldonium faces new doping crisis, no less ambitious than the one victim who last year became the domestic athletics. The victim of this drug became or will become in the near future a few more athletes, including the hero of the winter season skater Paul Kulizhnikova.
About what happened to her, Maria Sharapova said at a special press conference held in Los Angeles on the night of Monday to Tuesday Moscow time. “I failed a doping test, and fully accept the responsibility for it,” – announced the tennis player. It turned out that this is a sample, which she took on January 26 of this year. On this day, Maria Sharapova lost in the Australian Open quarter-finals, the first of the season Grand Slam tournament, American Serena Williams. The sample revealed the presence of traces in the body athletes meldonium.
This drug, which is in the Eastern European countries is available under the brand name “mildronat” before the incident with Maria Sharapova managed to get some notoriety. The fact is that in recent weeks, it has got a number of athletes. This, for example, the Swedish athlete Abeba Aregawi, Russian cyclist Eduard Vorganov, members of the Ukrainian team in biathlon Olga Abramova and Artem Tishchenko.
However, the story of Maria Sharapova on the resonance exceeded all previous ones combined. Speech in this case is not just about the elite athlete and the athlete of that regularly features among the most popular in the world and an absolute superstar. Winning in 2004, in 17 years, Wimbledon, Maria Sharapova is then added to this victory in the four Grand Slam tournaments (from the current women’s tennis over the asset only sisters Serena and Venus Williams), and won a total of 35 titles in singles.
Almost all previously convicted of application meldonium athletes explained their problems mistake made out of ignorance. After all, until recently it was considered a harmless drug, most prophylactic. At higher loads meldonium restores the balance between delivery and cellular oxygen demand, eliminating the accumulation of toxic products of metabolism in the cells, protecting them from damage, plus has a tonic effect. As a result of its use of the body acquires the ability to quickly restore energy reserves. Meldonium used to treat a variety of disorders of the cardiovascular system, the blood supply to the brain, as well as to improve physical and mental performance.
In many countries, including in Russia, it is sold without a prescription. Its founder Ivar Kalvins in an interview with radio station Baltkom said that the drug “is intended to protect the heart and brain in the case of oxygen deficiency,” from which “you can die,” and “apply and heart disease.” Mr. Kalvins flatly refuses to call it a “stimulant”. “I think this is the lobby of manufacturers of carnitine. This drug is the most common nutritional supplement used by athletes, bodybuilders. Our group, which once developed meldonium unfortunately ascertained that carnitine – not a harmless tool, it can affect the development of Since atherosclerosis that its producers thus want to affect the competition, “-. said Mr. Kalvins.
Meanwhile, on January 1 this year, the World Anti-Doping Agency meldonium included in the prohibited list.
Explanation of Maria Sharapova, in essence, no different from those given earlier meldonium victim. According tennis player, she regularly took the drug for a decade. Lawyer John Haggerty Ms. Sharapova said that she used it to “improve”, “in accordance with the doctor’s recommendations” based on “a series of surveys.” The “abnormal electrocardiogram indicators” and “signs of diabetes” were recorded during these surveys.
Maria Sharapova confessed that on 22 December WADA sent her mail email informing about the changes made to the list of banned drugs, but the athlete “not clicked” on it. “I let down my fans and their sport, which I do with four years and which I truly love” – Ms. Sharapova repented.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has reported that since March 12, Maria Sharapova, currently ranked seventh in the world ranking, will be temporarily suspended from the competition. Now ITF to take a decision on the basic sanctions for athletes. The range is quite wide.
John Haggerty, referring to the anti-doping regulations, recalled that an athlete who has been banned substance intentionally supposed four-year disqualification. If the offense committed out of ignorance, it is half term. But the presence of extenuating circumstances the punishment may be much less severe.
Mr. Haggerty sure that in the case of his client of such circumstances are obvious. In particular, he pointed out that “Mary made use of the drug in much smaller doses” than those athletes who hoped to “make money thanks to him an advantage over others.” In addition, for the benefit of Mrs. Sharapova could play a confession of guilt, as well as the position of the tennis public.
In general, it is quite benevolent. Famous American tennis player Jennifer Capriati, however, stated that, in her opinion, Sharapova “should be deprived of all titles”, but her opinion, perhaps, after all falls out of the total number. For example, tennis legend Martina Navratilova said that the incident seems to her “honest mistake.” And American Brad Gilbert said he was surprised by the fact that adjustments WADA Code “did not pay attention to the team of Maria Sharapova”, that is a significant part of the blame lies with her.
But, be that as it may, even if the ITF will take into account these factors and the WADA, which has the right to challenge the verdict, agree with her decision, happened to Maria Sharapova, apparently, turn for her powerful blow. Even if it will be discharged, for example, “preferential” six-month suspension, silver medalist earlier, the London Olympics will not be able to take part in the Olympic Games in August in Rio de Janeiro. If the suspension is prolonged, then for Ms. Sharapova, which in April was 29 years old, it is not excluded, it will mean the end of a career, which, as admitted tennis player, she would like to continue.
Even more weighty look of its financial losses. Since the middle of the last decade, Maria Sharapova has consistently ranked first in the ranking of the highest paid athletes according to Forbes the world. Last year, its revenues amounted to $ 29.5 million, and three-quarters of them – $ 23 million – has been earned not on the court, and advertising contracts. Their Ms. Sharapova was really much more than any other athlete in the world.
The situation changed immediately after the press conference. First, the severance of relations with Maria Sharapova “pending investigation,” the company said Nike. After her refusal to renew the contract with tennis player informed the Swiss watch brand TAG Heuer. Then he informed that “postpones the planned activities” with the star, Porsche. Because of this, Maria Sharapova will lose in the long run a few tens of millions of dollars. Especially troublesome seems possible loss of Nike. According to US sources, the amount of signed tennis with sportswear manufacturer in 2010, eight-year contract is $ 70 million.
However, meldonium dealt a blow not only to her personal well-being, but also throughout the Russian sport. He just has already gone through one doping crisis that erupted after the publication of the report of WADA in November last year. It said the establishment of the domestic sports industry, especially in athletics, its application and the concealment of doping violations. As a result of the report it has been indefinitely disqualified All-Russian Athletics Federation. And still it is not contrary to the predictions removed, and Russian athletes are still threatened by skipping the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Due meldonium Russia risks losing athletes, which not only produces the prestigious title, and has long been something of its “face”. Moreover, it appears that Maria Sharapova list of those Russians who meldonium tripped, will not be limited. Even before her press conference it was announced that it caught the champion of the Sochi Olympics in figure skating team tournament, the national team in the hope of dancing Yekaterina Bobrova ice detached from the start to the end of March the World Cup. And commenting on the “F-Sport” incidents with her and Maria Sharapova, Minister of Sports Vitaly Mutko candidly noted that “some cases, unfortunately, may still be,” and that, “unfortunately, this is a drug that is used by many athletes” .
Vitaly Mutko Predictions came true yesterday even, perhaps, faster than he had expected. The next victims mildronata were two celebrities who, like Ekaterina Bobrova, are winter sports. It was discovered by members of the Russian national team in short track and speed skating Seeds Elistratova and Paul Kulizhnikova. Earlier it was reported that both miss important starts in the end of the season – the world championship and World Cup finals.
And Simon Yelistratov and Pavel Pavel Kulizhnikov considered as candidates for a triumphant performance at the Olympics in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Both are young and both already have an impressive collection of awards. Semen Yelistratov won gold in Sochi in the relay and has since greatly added Pavel Kulizhnikov and Paul, who served first in the life of doping disqualification still in junior age and because she missed the Sochi Olympics, was a hero at all this season. He set a world record in the 500 meters, she won two gold medals at the world championships in the individual distances and World Championship gold in sprint all-around.
But summer views mildronat not bypassed. His footprints were found in volleyball national team of Russia Alexander Markin. He told Tass the Russian Volleyball Federation Secretary General Alexander Yaremenko, the “Dynamo”, advocated by Mr. Markin, “in December of course took this drug and doping sample was taken on January 9th Assembly”. It seems like the news will soon be absolutely routine.
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