THURSDAY, MARCH 10, 2016 SPORTS Inventor of drug in Sharapova case says it’s ‘not doping’

RIGA: Meldonium doesn’t enhance the Kalvins said. “This is not the same as using for 10 years for various medical was banned because it aids oxygen pendence in 1991. The company was pri- performance of athletes, the Latvian sci- increase of performance.” issues. The drug, which is not approved uptake and endurance, and several ath- vatized in 1997 and listed on the Latvian entist who invented the drug at the cen- Meldonium, a heart medicine that by the US Food and Drug Administration, letes in various international sports have stock exchange a year later. ter of Maria Sharapova’s doping case told improves blood flow, was banned by the was once common in the Soviet military, already been caught using it since it was Mildronate is Grindeks’ top-selling The Associated Press. World Anti-Doping Agency on Jan. 1. Kalvins said. He said he believes many prohibited. drug and a promotional video on the Ivars Kalvins said that the drug “is not WADA says it was prohibited “because of militaries around the world are still giving It is normally prescribed for four to six company website calls it a “great pride for doping,” but added it does protect ath- evidence of its use by athletes with the the drug to soldiers “because if the weeks. Grindeks, the Latvian company Grindeks and Latvia as a whole.” letes against heart damage during intention of enhancing performance.” ischemia is caused by, let’s say, the lack of that manufactures mildronate, says it was The company doesn’t disclose sales extreme physical exercise. Sharapova, a five-time Grand Slam oxygen in the air in mountains or whatev- one of the most important drug research figures for individual drugs but its total If the heart is working very hard, the champion, admitted she failed a doping er, in planes or in submarines, etc., it will centers in in the Soviet Union during the sales of drugs and pharmaceutical ingre- drug “protects the heart cells ... against test at the Australian Open in January for protect the soldiers against damages.” Cold War. It changed its name to dients in 2015 exceeded 82 million euros ischemia,” a blood circulation condition, meldonium, which she said she had been Also known as mildronate, the drug Grindeks when Latvia regained inde- ($90 million). — AP Sharapova drug prevalent in tennis: Ex WADA chief

LONDON: The use of meldonium, the drug taken by Maria Sharapova, was common in tennis before it was banned, Dick Pound, chair of the World Anti- Doping Agency’s investigation into Russian athlet- ics, said yesterday. Five-times grand slam champion Sharapova tested positive for the drug at this year’s Australian Open and faces a ban of up to four years, pending an investigation by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). Pound said Sharapova only had herself to blame for not realising meldonium, which some researchers have linked to increased athletic per- formance and endurance, had been outlawed since Jan. 1. He also suggested tennis authorities had been aware that many players were using the drug-a claim rejected by the ITF. “Clearly within the tennis circles they were aware that a lot of players were using it, so there NEW YORK: Gael Monfils and Stan Wawrinka are interviewed after their match at the must be something in it,” Canadian Pound told BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday in New York City. — AFP reporters at a conference on doping. The ITF, which will provisionally ban former world number one Sharapova from this weekend, Henin, Safin among four issued a statement in response to Pound’s com- ments. “The monitoring of substances is undertak- INSTANBUL: File photo, the then vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) en by WADA, and so tennis was not aware of the Craig Reedie speaks at a news conference in Istanbul, Turkey. World Anti-Doping Agency presi- elected to Hall of Fame prevalence of meldonium use in 2015 (or before), dent Craig Reedie yesterday has questioned why Maria Sharapova was prescribed Meldonium prior to its addition to the Prohibited List. “The ITF and said, “If the reports are true and this was happening when she was a teenager, then you NEW YORK: Former world number ones in my tennis career-remain something very did not refer meldonium to the WADA list commit- begin to wonder why a drug that is basically to help heart problems was administered, but Justine Henin of Belgium and Marat Safin important in my life.” Safin, 36, is the first tee,” it said. then I am not a doctor” - Reedie was speaking at the start of the “Tackling Doping in Sport” of Russia have been elected into the Russian player inducted into the Hall of Sharapova stunned the sporting world on conference being held in London. — AP International Tennis Hall of Fame, officials Fame. He won 15 career titles, including the Monday when she said she tested positive for mel- announced Tuesday. Henin won seven 2000 US Open and 2005 Australian Open, donium, a drug available in eastern Europe to treat Grand Slam singles titles and spent 117 before retiring in 2009. some heart conditions. 490 possible meldonium weeks atop the WTA rankings, while Safin “I’m very happy to be inducted to the The world’s highest-earning sportswoman who collected two major crowns and spent nine Hall of Fame,” Safin said. “To be part of a raked in $29.7 million last year, according to Forbes weeks atop the ATP rankings. Hall of Fame is every athlete’s dream. I am magazine, said she had taken the drug, for the past cases at Baku Games Set for posthumous induction in July 16 really honored to be inducted and proud to decade to treat health problems. ceremonies at the ATP Hall of Fame represent Russian tennis alongside the LONDON: Some 490 athletes, including 13 Monday saw Sharapova confess to having Championships are Frenchman Yvon Petra, greatest champions of tennis history.” ‘NO EXCUSE’ medallists, may have taken meldonium-the drug failed a dope test at the Australian Open in who died in 1984 at age 68, and England’s Petra won the Wimbledon men’s singles Pound had no sympathy for the 28-year-old responsible for tennis star Maria Sharapova’s January, with Russian ice dancer Ekaterina Margaret Scriven, who died at age 88 in title in 1946, after spending five years as a though, saying she had been careless in the failed dope test-at last year’s European Games in Bobrova’s positive test for meldonium revealed 2001. Henin, 33, is the first Belgian player prisoner of war in Germany, according to extreme. “No, there is no excuse,” Canadian Pound Baku, according to research published yesterday earlier on Monday. Former world number one inducted into the Hall of Fame. She won 43 the Hall of Fame. He is the most recent told Reuters. “This is a woman who won her first in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Sharapova said the change in WADA’s banned career singles titles before retiring in 2011, French winner of the men’s Wimbledon sin- Wimbledon title 12 years ago, she is in a sport Meldonium was placed on the World Anti- drugs list for 2016 led to an inadvertent violation, including the 2004 Australian Open, 2003 gles crown. Scriven won the French title in which is known to have drug problems, she knows Doping Agency’s list of banned substances on for which she will be “provisionally suspended” and 2007 US Opens and 2003, 2005, 2006 1933 and 1934, becoming the first left- she is going to be tested. “If you are running a $30 January 1, with the research, carried out on by the International Tennis Federation. and 2007 French Opens. handed woman to capture a Grand Slam million a year sole proprietorship, I’m sorry you behalf of the European Olympic Committees, Sharapova said she originally began taking “It’s a big honor,” Henin said. “I was five crown and the only unseeded winner of damn well make sure that you don’t do anything contributing to the global watchdog’s decision. meldonium for a variety of symptoms, including years old when I started playing tennis and the French championships. that makes you ineligible.” The findings were based on information volun- a tendency to become ill often, an irregular EKG my dream was to become a champion. All “Their success is part of the sport’s sto- Pound said as far as he was aware Sharapova teered by athletes and their medical teams as heart test and a family history of diabetes. of the things that then happened-all the ried history and we’re glad to recognize had not applied for a therapeutic use exemption well as anti-doping tests given at the European Meldonium is used to treat heart trouble, dreams that came true, all the victories and their accomplishments,” said Hall of Fame (TUE) for meldonium, a product not available in the Games last June. including angina and heart failure. In adding it Grand Slams, and every emotion that I lived president Stan Smith. — AFP US where she lives but common in Russia. Thirteen medallists were found to have been to the banned list, WADA said there was evi- He also said her positive test should serve as a taking meldonium and the drug was detected in dence it has been used by athletes with the warning to all tennis players. “I think this would athletes competing in 15 of the 21 sports. intention of enhancing performance. wake me up,” Pound said. “If you have an IQ higher Sharapova is not the only Russian sports star to But its use since it became a prohibited sub- than room temperature you should stop (using it). have fallen foul of the new status of meldonium, stance has not been solely a Russian problem, There is a test for it and you’ll be bounced.” Russian media said on Tuesday. with Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi, originally from Sharapova, who won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old, The state-run agency TASS reported that vol- Ethiopia, the world 1500 metres champion in could face a four-year ban from tennis. “There will leyball international Alexander Markin, speed 2013, Ukrainian biathletes Olga Abramova and clearly be a great deal of interest after the last 48 skating world champion Pavel Kulizhnikov and Artem Tychtchenko, the Ethiopian marathon run- hours in what the ITF do, my guess is we will watch short track Olympic champion Semen Yelistratov ner Endeshaw Negesse and six Georgian this one very carefully,” WADA president Craig have also tested positive for Meldonium. wrestlers also returning positive tests. — AFP Reedie told reporters. — Reuters Graf tips Serena to break major record ‘soon’

TOKYO: Steffi Graf believes Serena Williams will race past her Open-era record of 22 major sin- gles titles, and insists she will be happy for the American when it happens. Williams, who has won 21 Grand Slam singles events, was halted in her bid to tie the long- standing mark at the Australian Open in January when she was upset in the final by Graf’s fellow German Angelique Kerber. But Graf expects Williams to come roaring back this year. “I’m very sure that she will (break the record),” Graf told AFP in an interview. “To be honest I think we all believe that she can, and that she will soon.” The 46-year-old, who domi- nated women’s tennis from the late 1980s until the end of the 1990s, insisted that there would be no lingering disappointment at being over- taken by Williams. “Have I accepted it?” she laughed. “I gave everything to tennis and I feel great about what I have achieved,” added Graf, NEW YORK: Serena Williams returns a shot to Caroline Wozniacki during their now a mother of two living with husband Andre match at the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday in New Agassi and their two children in Las Vegas. York City. — AFP “I follow it somewhat but this is somebody else’s chance and I’m happy for them. It doesn’t take anything away from what I have achieved. Serena beats Wozniacki I’m completely at ease.” Graf completed a memorable calendar-year in exhibition at Garden grand slam in 1988, capturing all four major titles plus a gold medal from the Seoul Olympics TOKYO: Former world number one German tennis player Steffi Graf speaks during an interview NEW YORK: Serena Williams beat good she sprinted to the net to run down a drop, for good measure. But the German credited in Tokyo. Graf believes Serena Williams will race past her Open-era record of 22 major singles friend Caroline Wozniacki 7-5, 6-4 in an and then immediately raced back to chase Williams for revolutionising women’s tennis with titles, and insists she will be happy for the American when it happens. — AFP exhibition at Madison Square Garden on down a lob. her agility and brute strength. “Her serve is just Tuesday. The 21-time Grand Slam champi- With her dogged defense, Wozniacki the biggest stroke ever in women’s tennis,” said incredible tennis,” she said. slam success after her Melbourne triumph. on hasnít played a match since losing the forced Williams into some long rallies. But Graf, who split her only two meetings against “When you look at Angelique Kerber, she isn’t “I’ve watched and followed her, I’ve practised Australian Open as was the case in 10 of their 11 career Williams at the end of her career in 1999. physically such a force either. But they use the with her over the years a little bit,” she said. final Jan. 30, pulling out of two tourna- meetings - which includes the 2014 US “There’s nothing that’s ever been close to that court and they use different shots so I think “I was pretty aware of the talent and her ments because of illness. Sheís scheduled Open final a few miles away - Williamsí kind of power. And just to see her athleticism- (finesse) is still out there. capabilities. She was pushing for many years and to return to competition at Indian Wells this offense was too much. nobody has ever shown that in the sport. “Obviously you have different equipment I always felt like the confidence held her back a week. There were plenty of mistakes - many In the first match of the BNP Paribas Hopefully it’s going to bring a lot of other play- nowadays to what we used to use. It constantly little bit. But I felt like she was on the right track, punctuated by a shriek - for Williams early Showdown, 16th-ranked Gael Monfils of ers out who have that kind of power and can changes and that’s the way the sport should be.” like it was a matter of time.” on Tuesday, but as she does so often, she France beat two time major champion Stan make the breakthrough.” Graf, visiting Tokyo to promote a junior tour- Graf added: “I think she can add to this somehow was still ahead at the end of the Wawrinka 7-6 (6), 6-3. Two games midway nament run by Roland Garros, declined to com- because she’s very comfortable on all surfaces. set. The game started to look more familiar: through the second set were played as FINESSE GAME ment on the failed drugs test by Maria Right now all she has to do is stay with it and the court coverage, the well-rounded mixed doubles - Williams and Wozniacki Graf, however, does not fear that the power- Sharapova when she spoke to AFP late on just believe she can do it. I think that’s what the repertoire, the big serves to escape trou- came onto the court in their warmups, and hitters will put the shot-makers out of business Tuesday. Williams has praised the “courage” of Australian Open win is going to do for her — ble.Proving she was moving just fine, Williams teamed with Wawrinka and just yet. “I see Simona Halep, who doesn’t quite the Russian, who could be facing a lengthy ban. just to believe more and more and she will see Williams earned her first set point when Wozniacki with Monfils. — AP have that physical strength but still shows Graf did, however, tip Kerber for more grand even more results.” — AFP