Secretary General of the world anti-doping Agency (WADA) Olivier Niggli commented on the possibility of the withdrawal of Maria Sharapova with a ban on participation in competitions. The ban was imposed in connection with the discovery in the body of the sportswoman the forbidden preparation — Mildronate. The drug was added to the prohibited list from 1 January 2016.
The Niggli believes that the international tennis Federation should not lift the ban on participation in competitions with the Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova.
“Given the content of Meldonium in the body of the athlete, the question of removal of suspension with Sharapova and the termination of the investigation can not even be discussed,” said the Secretary General of WADA, reports TASS.
In March, Maria Sharapova on specially collected a press-conferences declared that in her doping sample was found Meldonium. The Russian was suspended from all competitions at the time of the investigation.
Previously published information that WADA considers a situation in which an athlete taking Meldonium may be justified. It was assumed that if the athlete did not take prohibited drug intentionally, and the concentration of the drug is negligible – the athlete may be allowed to continue his career.
