Sharapova fails drug test

[Fefe26]

even though i am not a fan, i feel bad for her.

 

[Fefe26]

im curious to see how her sponsors react.

 

[tossip]

for ten long years she has been doping and they probably ignored it....she got careless.I think that withdrawal from USA Open is highly suspicious.....no matter how ESPN will try to spin this doping is doping..and to remember they were throwing it into Serena s face that she is the highest paid athelete in the world...karma is a female dog y all..

 

[britbox]

Apparently it's a 2 year ban for unintentional use and a 4 year ban otherwise, so a lot will depend on how it's interpreted by the powers that be.

Now, she has admitted it was intentional (she's been taking the stuff for ten years) but basically pleaded ignorance to the fact that it was a banned substance since January.

I don't think ignorance is an argument... so it should really be a 4 year ban... but It wouldn't surprise me if they found a way to make it 2 years.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

I can't believe she did not know. Her team would have told her. My guess is that she chose to gamble, probably deciding to get off it as soon as AO is done and hope to not get caught. She is guilty; what kind of punishment is given remains the question. If the governing body does not apply the one year ban, it is setting a bad precedent.

Setting a one year ban would be bad. It should be 2 years. The drug she was taking for 10 years has a 2 month half life so she must be one hell of an idiot 'cos taking it 2 months prior and still having it in your system when tested is as dense as it gets.

I think it will be one year ban only

Apparently, the normal ban for this type of violation is 1 year. Considering Maria is famous (we all know these things play a role) and considering this is a recently banned drug, she will get only 6 months ban. On top of it, they will do it retroactively from the day she lost in AO. So, basically by the end of July Maria would be back in action, proudly holding the flag of Russia (a country of full dopers) at the Olympics as the chief doper.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Accordign to ITF, Maria will be suspended beginning 12th of March. I don't think she can escape without at least a six month ban, no matter how innocent she may claim to be. So, the ban would end on September 12th. Incidentally, that is a day after USO finals. So, this year, dominatrix will not be able to play RG, Wimby, Olympics and USO even assuming least possible penalty.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Regardless of what happens, I can't see the Olympics allowing her to compete. I think she will get a slap on the wrist though given her mistake excuse. I think she will be back either at the US Open or Australian Open not a full 2 year ban.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Jennifer Capriati has released multiple twitter messages condemning Dominatrix. Jenny says she never took any PEDs and lost her career as she was playing by the rules. Jenny was only into other kind of drugs, I suppose.

 

[tossip]

doping is doping she must get the full penalty,she only got caught otherwise she would have continued using
#dopefiend

 

[GameSetAndMath]

As per the Tennis antidoping agency,

1. If someone does this intentionally, the ban is for four years.
2. If the substance is found in the system, but not by intention, then the ban is two years.
3. If 2 above applies and there are mitigating circumstance, then the ban is one year.

So, unless there is a clause that says "If 3 above applies and the player involved is very famous, then the ban is six months", Maria will be out for one year.

See this ESPN clip

 

[tossip]

there will always be an asterisk on her wins from 06...that AO08,RG X2...apparently she was desperate to beat Serena because she got caught straight after her match against Serena.
she better humble herself now because she was looking very smug...

 

[10isfan]

Should this affect Hall of Fame entry? She did win four majors while playing with the advantage the drug gave her.

I have lost all respect for Martina N who is supporting Pova. It is her fault this screamer is on tour in the first place. After messing up Aga's game, I didn't think I could dislike her less, but I do now.

 

[Moxie]

I was shocked initially that she and her doctor weren't on top of this, but reading that it was a newly banned drug, and the fact that she came out on top of the information, I have to say, she ought to be given a bit of a pass. As she tested positive within weeks of the initial banning, for a drug she's taken for 10 years, that should be given some consideration. Who hasn't missed an email, or failed to click on the boring link? And she takes responsibility for being cavalier. Also, the drug has two names, and the banned one isn't the name she knew it by. I think any ban that was career-ending would be overly punitive. It seems that the ITF is finally taking a stricter course, with drugs and match-fixing, and if she gets swept up by it, so be it. I can't see how top athletes can't be completely scrupulous about the medications they take. It's part of the job, or should be. But I think a 6-month ban would be fair, as it was a newly announced drug. It would tell people to take it all seriously, without ending her career.

 

[masterclass]

What a shocker! I don't know what surprises me more: that Sharapova took PEDs or that the WTA/ITF did not cover it up. Sharapova is a big name in tennis.

ITF said nothing until after Maria announced it. If she had chosen to stay quiet, and maintained having an "injured arm" or something, I very much doubt the WTA or ITF would have said anything, at least until everything had been hashed out (appeal process, backdated TUE possibility, etc).
I think this is the right way to go for Maria. Get it all out in the open and take the consequences. My guess is that she will probably get a reduced suspension similar to Cilic.

Some observations/questions I have are:

1. I'm surprised it took WADA so long to include it on the banned list as it seems athletes from the eastern block have been using it for years. Why so long?
2. It will be interesting to see if anyone else in tennis has been caught, or if some players performances drop if they were using it, and have stopped or are stopping so as not to get caught.
3. What will the perception of the public be? I think it could range from excusing it as an oversight and an honest mistake, to that she has been using it for performance enhancement for many years.
4. How will it affect her sponsors? Meaning will any of them drop her?
5. Will there be a backlash from other players?
6. If not her, somebody on her team should have been aware of the addition of the drug on the banned list. I'm amazed it "fell through the cracks.", unless no one on the team knew she was taking it.

Respectfully,
masterclass

 

[the AntiPusher]

As per the Tennis antidoping agency,

1. If someone does this intentionally, the ban is for four years.
2. If the substance is found in the system, but not by intention, then the ban is two years.
3. If 2 above applies and there are mitigating circumstance, then the ban is one year.

So, unless there is a clause that says "If 3 above applies and the player involved is very famous, then the ban is six months", Maria will be out for one year.

See this ESPN clip

Thanks GSM, I just saw this same statement on ESPN, 2-4 years per her lawyer. That is crucial

 

[Hoergren]

BREAKING: Nike suspends relationship with Maria Sharapova after the tennis star said she failed a drug test.

 

[britbox]

I hadn't considered your first sentence masterclass but it raises an interesting point.

ITF said nothing until after Maria announced it. If she had chosen to stay quiet, and maintained having an "injured arm" or something, I very much doubt the WTA or ITF would have said anything, at least until everything had been hashed out (appeal process, backdated TUE possibility, etc).

Would they have said something? I'm guessing so... or I don't think Maria would have made the announcement. Maybe they did a deal where they wouldn't say anything until Maria went public.

 

[Carol]

I agree with why after years knowing about the effects of that medicine WADA decided to banned at the beginning of this year, weird and who knows what they will decide in the future that at the present is still legal

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Just read on Twitter,Nike has decided to suspend their relationship with Maria Sharapova,while the investigation continues.Nike said they were saddened and surprised.

 

[Moxie]

I hadn't considered your first sentence masterclass but it raises an interesting point.

ITF said nothing until after Maria announced it. If she had chosen to stay quiet, and maintained having an "injured arm" or something, I very much doubt the WTA or ITF would have said anything, at least until everything had been hashed out (appeal process, backdated TUE possibility, etc).

Would they have said something? I'm guessing so... or I don't think Maria would have made the announcement. Maybe they did a deal where they wouldn't say anything until Maria went public.

Actually, we have no proof that the ITF would have said anything. They have no history of coming forward about bans, or drug test failures with any coherent policy mandate. I have to believe this was Sharapova getting ahead of it. Which was smart. And if nothing else, she's a smart business women. The ITF has never proven itself to be savvy in terms of clarity on doping issues.