Sharapova blames ITF for doping ban News

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Sharapova blames ITF for doping ban

By Daily Sports on April 15, 2017

Russian Tennis star, Maria Sharapova has criticised the International Tennis Federation for failing to inform her that meldonium had been added to the list of banned substances prior to her been tested positive for the drug.

The International Tennis Federation had suspended Sharapova after she tested positive to a banned substance, meldonium, during the Australian open In January.

The five times Grand Slam champion had admitted in March that she had failed a drug test at the Australian Open due to a substance she was taking for health issues.

The Russian said she did not realise the drugs she had been using for the past 10 years was declared a banned substance by WADA on January 1 2016.

She has however admitted complacency on her part but blamed the ITF for not informing her on time.

“Why didn’t someone come up to me and have a private conversation, just an official to an athlete, which would have taken care of the confidentiality problem they talked about later?” Sharapova told The Times.

“Ultimately the fault was mine, I had been getting clearance on everything I was taking for seven years and I became complacent.” She added

The Russian is excepted to return to competitive action this month. (TV360 Nigeria)

•Tennis star, Maria Sharapova.

Source Daily Sports

Posted April 15, 2017