Sharapova’s Doping Ban Reduced, Can Play Again in April

Maria Sharapova has been cleared to play again on April next year after the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) cut her two year drugs ban to 15 months on Tuesday.

The former world number one ranked player tested positive for the prohibited heart medication meldonium at the Australian Open in January. She acknowledged taking meldonium but said that she had been unaware that it had been banned by World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The player was imposed a two-year ban by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

Meldonium was found to increase blood flow and improve athletic performance and was added to WADA’s list of banned substances at the start of the year.

The CAS committee found that the Russian athlete “bore some degree of fault” but “less than significant fault” in the case. Sharapova relied on her agent Max Eisendbud to check the prohibited list for changes but failed to confirm that he had acted on it.

John Haggerty, Sharapova’s lawyer, said that Tuesday’s ruling was a “stunning repudiation” of the ITF, which failed to appropriately inform players of the meldonium ban.

He added that the CAS panel has established that it is not agreement with many of the conclusions of the ITF.

WADA said that it stands by the ruling and that the CAS has completely examined all available information and evidence in the case.

Sharapova said she took the drug for magnesium deficiency and regular bouts of the flu. Her family doctor first prescribed her the Latvian-made drug in 2006.

The five-time Grand Slam champion acknowledged that she had taken responsibility from the very beginning for not knowing that the over-the-counter supplement she had taken for 10 years was no longer allowed. “I have learned from this, and I hope the ITF has as well,” Sharapova said.

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