Sharapova's tennis career in jeopardy after she admits failing drug test

No surprises, cheating and doping is an ancient Russian tradition

Sharapova says she failed drug test; penalty unknown

No penalty, such beautiful players should be exempted from tests :)

What!? All that doping . . . and she STILL couldn't beat Serena Williams?? Remarkable-

On the surface, this all looks like nonsense. Just have some doctors appear to confirm that she was taking the drug for medicinal purposes as she asserts. Is it a prescription drug? I saw that announcement on TV. She delivered her comments with real class.

Bottom line is no doctor would prescribe such drug to a patient who suffers from magnesium deficiency or have diabetes in her/his family. She took this drug knowing its effects on the heart, blood etc.

Plus from what i have read meldonium isnt marketed in the us, where she lives, nor the E.U but only in some Baltic countries, Russia and other eastern euro nations.

No one is going to make me believe an elite athlete would pick such 'dodgy' drug to cure a serious medical condition. Not saying she doesn't suffer from magnesium deficiency and other minor conditions but meldonium was taken for other purposes than re balance her magnesium levels etc.

Just have some doctors appear to confirm that she was taking the drug for medicinal purposes as she asserts.

It wouldn't matter, the doctors will say whatever Russia wants them to say. Though meldonium was put on the banned substances list as of this year, it has been known as a performance enhancing drug for much longer, and it is hard for Sharapova to claim innocence, and to say that she simply didn't read the notice from the tennis association and WADA. One of the oldest legal maxims is "ignorantia legis neminem excusat", or "ignorance of the law excuses no one".

Just have some doctors appear to confirm that she was taking the drug for medicinal purposes as she asserts. Is it a prescription drug?

AFAIK there's no medicinal exception.

In the end, she admitted she didn't check the new ban list. That's ultimately the player's responsibility what goes into their body.

Drug use & overpaid athletes are the main reason I don't watch or care much for sports, including the Olympics etc, too many are just selfish greedy types...............

She has admitted taking this stuff for a DECADE for christs sake! A drug only available in E.Europe.........which is infamous for drug abuse in sport............

Although it seems WADA may well be guilty if it was LEGAL to do this stuff KNOWING it enhances performance, seems they have been slack to say the least wrt to this drug!!

So back to Sharapova, the reason she was taking this drug for a DECADE......................obviously for TENNIS!!!

GUILTY!!! NEXT!!!!!!...........

Agree, stopped supporting the Olympics when they started to allow Pro's to compete, prior to that it was a chance for Amateurs to become Pro's.

Get rid of her.

There was a time whenthe Olympics was only for Amateurs, Pro's had their own Tournaments.

Not any more it hàs become tougher for Amateurs to proof themselves secure sponsors.

A working colleague in South Africa coached the paraly!pics speed skating team which is all amateur as are most of the paralympic teams which are the true athletes, IMHO.

Although she has lived in the U.S. since childhood,

Ok, she plays for Russia, lives in the US, takes medication proscribed by a Russian doctor while in America?

And she didnt know? Hmmmm......

The drug isn't approved by the FDA and so isn't (legally) available in the U.S.A. If she were taking this drug for medical reasons, her doctors here in the U.S. would have prescribed a legal alternative. I guess even beauties feel the need to cheat as they get older.

What!? All that doping . . . and she STILL couldn't beat Serena Williams??

Hasn't stopped her grunting either.

In the end, she admitted she didn't check the new ban list. That's ultimately the player's responsibility what goes into their body

It seems this drug is legal in some places, illegal in others. I say show mercy here: give her a year's suspension and a hefty fine - with the condition she submit to a drug test prior to every tennis match she participates in

I say show mercy here: give her a year's suspension

WADA President Craig Reedie recently said that any athlete found guilty of using meldonium would normally face an one-year suspension.