MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova will most likely not compete due to the detected use of meldonium, which has put her future career under question, Russian Federation of Tennis President Shamil Tarpischev said Thursday.
All the way from Rome?! THIS made my day. Thank you #SharaFamily pic.twitter.com/E57R97A9o5
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) 12 May 2016
"It’s very unlikely," Tarpischev told R-Sport when asked of Sharapova would compete in any upcoming events.
Whoa, first fist pump in a while!! 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/zdIdoFZPJk
— Maria Sharapova (@MariaSharapova) 11 May 2016
In March Maria Sharapova, who is a five-time Grand Slam champion, announced that she had tested positive for meldonium, which was added to the list of banned substances on January 1, 2016, by the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA). She said her family doctor began issuing the substance, also known as mildronate, in 2006 because of the health problems she had.
A number of Russian top athletes, including tennis star Maria Sharapova, swimmer Yulia Efimova, figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova and biathlonist Eduard Latypov, among others, have failed a drug test for meldonium.
