Sharapova Shock

[-SharonA-]

She has failed a drug test. I am so surprised, she who projects a squeaky clean image.

She reckons she has diabetes and her medication was banned as of 1st January.

[CrapAtCryptics]

I doubt if she will worry to much she is allegedly worth $195 million.

[agchristie]

C@C > I doubt if she will worry to much she is allegedly worth $195 million.

But what price her reputation?

[CrapAtCryptics]

On that subject we will have to wait and see what the enquiry says.

[Cloverjo]

I think a ban of four years has been mentioned.
If she gets that it would almost certainly be the end of her career. She's 29 now. Yes, she has tons of money, but I don't think that would compensate for the end of her career and reputation.

[CrapAtCryptics]

My understanding is she is subject to a suspension pending the enquiry. Guilty till proven innocent?

[Peter Pedant]

I bet she is lying on a divan in her downtown L A hotel thinking

god how many mega-bucks have I dropped ? and yet I did this to myself ......

[CrapAtCryptics]

We`ve all dumped emails we think are just junk - she just picked the wrong one.

[Hopkirk]

She's just another cheating Russian.

Why was she taking this performance enhancing drug for ten years?

Don't tell me she has diabetes, when she runs a sweet company called Sugarpova.

Ban her for as long as possible.

[agchristie]

Hopkirk > She's just another cheating Russian.

Why was she taking this performance enhancing drug for ten years?

Hopkirk, how can you state she is a cheat and yet ask why she was taking a performance enhancing drug? You can't come to that conclusion without knowing the full facts.

She was taking the drug because she had a magnesium deficiency. The diabetes arose from her family history.

Her lawyer believes she has a good case - let's not jump to hasty conclusions.

[Hopkirk]

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/08/meldonium-treatment-four-to-six-weeks-maria-sharapova?

[237SJ]

I thought it was an angina drug? I haven`t read anything about it but I would have thought that that would mean it improves blood flow. I`m not sure what that has to do with diabetes or magnesium deficiency.

[agchristie]

Cloverjo > I think a ban of four years has been mentioned.

Correct, though if it is proven but she did not take it intentionally she would expect two years

[-SharonA-]

Agchristie, I don't believe her about the diabetes. And the media are not helping by saying she has got this and got that!!
If she really had diabetes or even angina, would she be playing tennis???

[Hopkirk]

She lives in the USA, but you can't even get the drug there or in the UK.

It must be specially brought in for her.

All very fishy.

[agchristie]

@Hopkirk

The link you provided states that the drug can be issued long term and it is questionable whether it is a performance enhancing drug at all! Could even be counter-productive.

[Hopkirk]

Why are you so keen to defend her?

[agchristie]

Sharon > Agchristie, I don't believe her about the diabetes. And the media are not helping by saying she has got this and got that!! If she really had diabetes or even angina, would she be playing tennis???

Dangerous game trial by media. Nobody is claiming she has angina which is why she is able to play when fully fit.

[Peter Pedant]

ag that defence has been tried before
( ' it doesnt work so ... )
and the tribunal just said; " the question is, is it on the forbidden list ?'

[Neveracrossword]

Agchristie, a report in the Times today said that Wada (World Anti-Doping Drug Agency) had added Meldonium to their list of banned drugs as they had 'evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance'. It is used to treat blood flow, but can be used to increase endurance.

[agchristie]

Hopkirk > Why are you so keen to defend her?

Why are people so quick to condemn? Yes, she has failed a drugs test but the full facts have not been examined. Lots of speculation in the media which fans the flames. Why, on here earlier, we had the comment that she missed lots of tournaments. She has been blighted by injuries and illness that has interrupted her career.