Tennis Superstar Maria Sharapova was Suspended because of Drug Use

Tennis aficionados were heartbroken when Maria Sharapova announced in a press conference at a Los Angeles hotel that she got provisionally suspended because of failing the drug test at the Australian Open. Sharapova admitted of using the performance-enhancing drug called Meldonium (Mildronate) for 10 years already. However, she claimed that she did not use the drug to enhance her performance but to control her diabetes and her magnesium deficiency.

She also clarified that she had been using Meldonium legally until World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) added the said drug to the banned list on January 1. Sharapova also said that though she received the list of banned substances on December 22 last year, she has not looked at it therefore she was not aware of its illegality. This claim of hers was doubted by ITF for they have sent 5 emails regarding the updated list of the banned substances.

The 5-time Gram Slam Champion took 'full responsibility' of her negligence.  International Tennis Federation (ITF) also declared Sharapova's suspension effective on March 12 (Saturday).

The World's Number 2 Tennis player Andy Murray said, "Clearly if you are taking performance-enhancing drugs and you fail a drugs test, you have to get suspended". He said that there's more to do to fight doping in sports.

Serena Williams, World's Number 1 and was defeated by Sharapova at, disputed the wider usage of substance in tennis despite of Sharapova's positive test. "We live in a massive world with billions of people and we have a few people that do things and it makes people scared, but that doesn't make the whole world a bad place. And that's the same thing with tennis," Williams said.

Meldonium also known as Mildronate is an anti-ischemic drug that increases endurance performance of athletes and also improves rehabilitation after physical activities.