MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The Russian Tennis Federation is sure that Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova would get out of a difficult situation concerning her failed drug test with dignity, President of the national governing body of tennis Shamil Tarpishchev said on Tuesday.
On Monday, Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam champion, said she tested positive for meldonium, medicine added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016.
"Maria Sharapova is a prominent personality of our time, and the fact, with what kind of dignity and endurance she accepts the challenge and responsibility for her actions, once again points at her champion’s nature. The Russian Tennis Federation supports Masha and, we are confident that she will pass through this test with dignity. We are always ready to do everything necessary on our part to help Masha," Tarpishchev said in a statement.
Sharapova said her family doctor began issuing meldonium, also known as Mildronate, in 2006 because of several health problems she had, including a regular flu and indications of diabetes.
