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This was published 8 years ago

Meldonium, or mildronate: the banned drug Maria Sharapova took

Updated

WHAT IS MELDONIUM?

* The drug, which is also known as mildronate, is used to treat ischemia: a lack of blood flow to parts of the body.

* The drug, developed in Latvia and not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States, increases blood flow which improves exercise capacity in athletes.

* WADA found "evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance".

Maria Sharapova addresses the media regarding her failed drug test.

Maria Sharapova addresses the media regarding her failed drug test.Credit: Getty Images

* The decision to add it to the banned list was approved on September 16, 2015, and it came into effect on January 1, 2016.

* It is classed as an S4 substance under the WADA code, which addresses hormone and metabolic modulators.

* A memo was sent out by Russia's anti-doping agency last September informing them of the decision.

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* Sharapova says she has been taking the drug for 10 years after she was regularly falling ill, had a magnesium deficiency and family history of diabetes.

* Fellow Russian athlete and Olympic gold medallist figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova admitted to testing positive to the drug on Monday.

*The New York Times reports that Maria Sharapova is at least the seventh athlete to test positive to the now-banned substance this year.

AAP

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Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/meldonium-or-mildronate-the-banned-drug-maria-sharapova-took-20160307-gnd1bz.html