Kellfire
Blackballed
Sadly that isn't your call to make, and the people that do make it have said it wasn't an act of cheating per se. Sorry. Don't let it get to you.
This was part of the report, from the BBC website
"In a letter she wrote to the panel before the hearing, Sharapova admitted she took 500mg of meldonium on 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 January this year: the days on which she played her five matches at the Australian Open.
The panel concluded that the "manner of its use, on match days and when undertaking intensive training, was only consistent with an intention to boost her energy levels... which must inevitably lead to the conclusion she took Mildronate (a brand name for meldonium) for the purpose of enhancing her performance".
Sounds very much like cheating to me.
"In a letter she wrote to the panel before the hearing, Sharapova admitted she took 500mg of meldonium on 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 January this year: the days on which she played her five matches at the Australian Open.
The panel concluded that the "manner of its use, on match days and when undertaking intensive training, was only consistent with an intention to boost her energy levels... which must inevitably lead to the conclusion she took Mildronate (a brand name for meldonium) for the purpose of enhancing her performance".
Sounds very much like cheating to me.
Ethan
Money List Winner
The argument she was taking this for a bona fide medical reason is laughable.
She lives in the US where the standards of medical care are excellent and there would be no need to use this crappy so-called medicine which is only approved in eastern Europe. No proper western doctor would touch it with a bargepole.
She may have genuinely missed the info that it was banned from Jan 2016, but it was her job to know, so tough luck. End of career.
Kellfire
Blackballed
She took it to enhance performance, yes. She's only intentionally cheating if she didn't know it was banned. Before it was banned it was no different to eating a banana or taking multi-vitamins in terms of "cheating".
Does anyone really think she'd take it on all five match days, knowing how often they get tested, had she known it was banned? I don't believe she'd fly that close to the wind in a time when tennis is under such scrutiny. And the ITF agree with me, as they said they don't believe she was taking it in the knowledge that it was banned.
Stupidity isn't a valid excuse.
Ethan
Money List Winner
Did Tiger think he could, ahem, befriend every cocktail waitress in Orlando and not get caught? Sure he did.
It is hubris and God complex - normal rules don't apply to them.
bluewolf
Money List Winner
It apparently is if you're tall, blonde and good looking...... Lucky me.....
SwingsitlikeHogan
Major Champion
She knew it was performance enhancing, she took it because it was performance enhancing, so did she not suspect that a performance enhancing drug might be banned and so check.
I don't keep up with changes to the rules of golf that well. That won't stop me getting DQ'd if I break a rule that wasn't a rule break 20yrs ago. I need to keep up. As said - ignorance - deliberate or otherwise - is no excuse.
ger147
Tour Winner
Sharapova ban reduced from 2 years to 15 months after her appeal to CAS so she'll be back on the court by April next year.
G
guest100718
Guest
Nice
freddielong
Tour Winner
Terrible decision it should have been increased not reduced, cheating is cheating and sorry I didn't realise I couldn't kick my ball back on the fairway doesn't cut it.
D
Deleted member 16999
Guest
But you wouldn't be DQ'd for 2 years, just one game, she messed up and has been punished, whether it's 1, 2 or 10 years, still guilty.
