Tennis star Maria Sharapova tested positive for doping at the recent Australian Open. She read the following statement, as reprinted by E! News:
"I wanted to let you know that, a few days ago, I received a letter from the ITF that I had failed a drug test at the Australian Open. I did fail the test and I take full responsibility for it. For the past 10 years I have been given a medicine called Mildronats by my doctor—by my family doctor—and after I got the letter from ITF I found out it also has another name, of meldonium, which I did not know.
It's very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on what is banned list and I had been legally taking the medicine for the past 10 years. But on January 1, the rules have changed, and meldonium became a prohibited substance, which I had not known.
Throughout my long career I have been open and honest about many things, and I take great responsibility and professionalism in my job every single day. I made a huge mistake. I let my fans down. I let the sport down that I've been playing since the age of 4, that I love so deeply. I know that with this I face consequences and I don't want to end my career this way, and I really hope that I will be given another chance to play this game."
And on whether or not she's retiring:
"If I was ever going to announce my retirement, it would probably not be in a downtown Los Angeles hotel with this fairly ugly carpet."
No comments:
Post a Comment