Renewed hope for Sharapova in doping controversy

The World Anti-Doping Agency has announced that athletes tested positive for meldonium could avoid sanctions due to a lack of scientific evidence on how long the recently banned heart-drug stays in the system.

Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts as she watches compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova play against Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands during their Fed Cup World Group tennis match in Moscow, in this February 7, 2016 file photo. REUTERS/Grigory Dukor/Files

The dramatic change could lead to numerous doping cases being thrown out, including that of Maria Sharapova. The Russian tennis star was provisionally suspended last month after failing a drugs test.

Anyone tested positive for meldonium after January 1st this year could avoid sanctions. But those found with the heart drug in their system before that time will be penalized.

This is in essence what the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is proposing, but the news has sparked anger. Experts fear that it could grant an automatic pass to those found guilty of doping, such as top athletes like Maria Sharapova.

"What is sad is that this is a heart-drug that you're supposed to take for 4-6 weeks, yet hundreds, or thousands, have taken it for years to get an edge over others," former athlete Tim Hutchinson told RFI on Thursday.

"Morally it smacks of subterfuge," he added, saying the decision was likely to condone moral misconduct.

The grey area in this debate arises from the fact the drug was banned only in January and there are conflicting views as to whether it is a doping substance.

Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't think it is. He insisted the heart-drug does not enhance athletes' performance.

Yet his comments come as forty Russian athletes are under suspension after testing positive for meldonium. The plight of tennis ace Sharapova is thus one of many.

Hutchinson says that this latest doping scandal is reminiscent of blood doping cases that emerged in the 1980s.

"When I was competing in the 1984 Olympics, a lot of my rivals were blood doping. It wasn't banned per se, but morally it was considered very below the belt."

Meldonium may not be blood doping, but to Hutchinson, it's just as bad.

"I am disappointed that these people would go to any length to find an advantage that they keep under the table, whether it's legal or not, whether it's blood doping or meldonium, they transgress that moral barrier."

Despite her drug use, Sharapova is still slated to play for Moscow in the Olympic tennis tournament in August.