Will Maria Sharapova have chance to play in Rio?

Will Maria Sharapova have chance to play in Rio?. April. 16, 2016 07:14. by 황규인 기자. Will "Russian beauty" Maria Sharapova (29) have a chance to participate in the 2016 Summer Olympics?

Sharapova, the silver medalist in women’s single tennis competition in the 2012 Olympics in London, held a press conference last month, and announced that she had failed in doping test due to "meldonium." The World Anti-Doping Agency designated meldonium, which was originally used as heart disease treatment, as a banned drug, effective January 1 this year.

According to the doping agency, at least 172 athletes have been tested positive of the drug so far. World Anti-Doping Agency Chairman Craig Reedie said, “It is unprecedented that so many athletes have been tested positive of a drug in the first year of the drug’s designation as a banned substance.”

After all, the global doping agency backed off a bit. The agency said it could give athletes who had blood content of this substance at 1μg or less among the athletes who were tested positive before March 1, a chance to make an appeal and consider excluding them from the sanctioned athletes. “Sufficient studies have not been done to examine how long it takes for meldonium to be discharged from the body,” the World Anti-Doping Agency said. “We don’t mean to pardon unconditionally. We take this measure to give lenience to athletes who have never taken meldonium since the drug’s designation as a banned substance.”