MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Saturday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that WADA’s decision to ban meldonium was somewhat politically motivated and that Russia would officially request the results of WADA's investigation into the substance.
"WADA strongly denies that the inclusion of meldonium on the 2016 prohibited list was in any way political," the anti-doping body told R-Sport.
WADA insists that it banned meldonium from use by athletes after going through an established process.
"This is a tried and tested process that has existed for many years. There can be no question as to the process that was followed which established meldonium as a banned substance as of 1st January 2016," the WADA said.
On March, Maria Sharapova, Russia's five-time Grand Slam champion, admitted to having tested positive for the drug. Later, reports emerged that short-track speed-skater Semion Elistratov, speed skater Pavel Kulizhnikov and national volleyball team member Alexander Markin also had tested positive for meldonium.
WADA considers meldonium to be a metabolic modulator that increases athletes' endurance and shortens post-exercise rehabilitation time, as well as enhancing central nervous system activation.
