Maria Sharapova Accepts Responsibility, Awaits Suspension.
On Monday, Five-time Grand Slam winner, Maria Sharapova announced that she had tested positive for a performing enhancing drug, Meldonium. She failed this test following the match against Serena Williams in the 2016 Australian Open quarterfinals. Meldonium was recently put on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) list of banned substances on January 1 of 2016. Sharapova, admitted to using the substance since 2006, citing health reasons. Maria has had a long history of health and injury related issues and the announcement came as a shock to the tennis community. “I did fail the test and take full responsibility for it…” Said Sharapova
Although the severity of the punishment that looms, a potential two to four-year ban, many are praising Maria for her courage and willingness to admit and accept the consequences that could follow. Already Sharapova has lost some major sponsors, Nike and Tag Heuer has decided to part ways with the tennis superstar.
Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief executive Steve Simon stated, “The range that has been discussed so far is between six months and four years.”
Maria will have to prove that she did not use the substance as a performance enhancer for her match against Serena. Meldonium when used in excess can provide quick recover time, and provide more stamina in the short term.
Sharapova has been the highest-earning female athlete in the world for the last 11 years (Forbes). Her contributions to the game have been endless; she was a 17 year old when she won Wimbledon in 2004.
Most reactions about this announcement are “shock” and “surprised” as Maria is known for keeping up with the standards and changes in rules.
The committee will suspend Sharapova starting March 12, 2016 and will continue to investigate the failed test. Maria will have a chance to speak to the committee and state her case. It would be a huge shock if this suspension goes beyond two years, a first time offender and a player who was been committed to the game seems to have made an honest mistake. At this point any suspension from the ITF will most likely take the 2012 Silver Medalist out of the 2016 Olympics.
Thoughts:
Understanding the severity of performance enhancers and how they hurt the games, in a sense you can only applaud Maria. We ask our role models, and leaders to accept responsibility for the errors they make, Sharapova did just that. Calling a press conference and putting forth the courage to accept and present what most people did not even know. That takes heart, and I don’t know if Maria thought she could get away with cheating, or if this was an honest mistake but I respect the fact that she was willing to come forth with this information herself rather than a "leak" or even the all most common denial.
Stay with MyWSports for more information as it becomes available on the looming suspension of Maria Sharapova.
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