Maria Sharapova, the 28-year-old Russian tennis star, five-time grand slam champion and the highest paid woman in sports will be provisionally suspended starting from March 12, 2016 by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for testing positive to meldonium.
Though Maria Sharapova said on Monday during the news conference that she was taking the susbstance for health issues. Meldonium is used to treat chest pains, heart attack, diabetes, low magnesium and other health conditions. It was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on January 1, 2016 because some researchers have linked it to increased athletic performance and endurance. Nike, the world’s largest sportswear maker and Maria’s leading longtime sponsor announced that the company is suspending its relationship with Sharapova.
Source: Viewers Corner News.