Decade of dope: Diabetes risk or physical endurance?

It’s one of the biggest sporting scandals of recent times. Former world number one Maria Sharapova, recently revealed that she had indeed failed a drug test at the Australian Open.

The Russian, 28, tested positive for meldonium, a substance she claims she has been taking since 2006 because she ran a “diabetes risk”.

The tumble has already begun. Sharapova, the highest-earning female athlete and a five-time Grand Slam winner, earned $29.7 million last year. Forbes puts her earnings from off court deals and sponsorships at over $200 million and if her provisional ban lasts the prescribed four-year limit, the star will lose a sizeable chunk from yearly earnings.

But let’s go back to the big question here. How did one of the world’s biggest names in sport ignore the fact that the Latvia-made drug was also responsible for tweaks in performances?

Here are the highlights. Meldonium (or mildronate — what Sharapova knows it as) became a prohibited substance on January 1, 2016. There is “evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance”.

The controversial drug has spent time on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of drugs “to be monitored”. Some of Meldonium’s “medical benefits” could enhance athletic performance, especially in endurance athletes.

Other pluses are “increased endurance”, aerobic capabilities of athletes and increased rate of recovery. Overall, a drug that has several other benefits besides just being “a watchman” for diabetes.

Other questions experts are asking are… did Sharapova find a legal route to enhance her abilities? Did she procure the drug in the United States — where it is banned?

Dr S. Bakhtiar Chaudhry, a sports medicine expert who was the team doctor to several sports personalities including Sachin Tendulkar and Martina Hingis, says, “If Sharapova was taking this drug for 10 years for a heart ailment, which she was, she should have filled a Therapeutic Use Exemption form. It gives the athlete the authorisation to take the needed medicine. It’s sheer ignorance. Otherwise, an athlete like Sharapova doesn’t need any kind of drug going by her dynamics.”

Also, the drug company behind Meldonium claims a normal course of treatment is four to six weeks. So, why was Sharapova on the drug for 10 years? According to Sharapova, she had a magnesium deficiency and a family history of diabetes.

The drug is known to treat a lack of blood flow to parts of the body, particularly the heart, as Dr Bakhtiar explains: “I see no harm in her taking the prescribed drugs, which stimulates pulse rate. Since tennis is one sport that requires 60 per cent of endurance.”   

But S.P. Misra, former Davis Cup player and captain, argues, “When she was allowed to take this drug for 10 years, by oversight, she has overlooked the fact that this drug will be banned from January 1. I personally feel they should be lenient on her. It does not make any sense to me. But at the same time, ignorance of law is no excuse. Whatever action the World Anti-Doping Code has to take, they will take.”

The standard ban under the World Anti-Doping Code is four years.

A memo was sent out to athletes by Russia’s anti-doping agency last September informing them of the decision to ban its use.

Will she be able to play again?

It depends for how many years they are going to ban her. It’s very difficult for some at 28 to bounce back given her injury history. And more so by then new players would have taken her place,” says Misra.

Praveen Bhargava, coach and joint secretary of the Telangana Tennis Association, has a very different take on it. He says, “The scenario here is different, had it been Olympics or Asian Games, they would have taken back your medals.

Here, no one is going to take back the Grand Slam, titles from her.”  He also questions: “Was there a check earlier? Has she declared earlier that she is on this particular medication? Now that she has been caught, she should face the music.”

Loses Sponsors

Automaker Porsche has postponed all planned sponsorship with Sharapova. TAG Heuer has suspended negotiations and even Nike has cut ties with her.