Sharapova drug cheat

[Edmondson]

Was taking a drug not on WADA banned list for 10 years, to treat some fairly spurious medical issues she claims to have. Same drug coincidentally found in 13 of the actual medalists from European Atheletics championships.

Pretty clear cut I'd say, that she found something to enhance her performance which was legal. Is that right? Like conning the ref into giving a penalty? Like super tax planning / avoidance?

Then once WADA catches up and has the drug banned, she continues to take it, and is now caught out.

Most of the tennis world immediate reaction was it was just a really silly mistake.

Drug manufacturer launching into WADA and stating there will now be multiple deaths to athletes whilst performing due to this ban

Either a weirdly large percentage of top athletes come from sickly types who need drugs for their asthma/diabetes/irregular heart beat <insert anything else that sounds good> or it's absolutely commonplace to search out what performance enhancing drugs can be taken, which would beat the system, or preferably stay the legal side of the system.

[wahine]

My immediate thought was that why would a young fit athlete in their prime need to take a any drug for so many years?
Especially when that drug was intended fo short term use.
Surely the avoidance of any type of drug is the preferred option for optimum health.

[murf]

The drug is apparently for chronic heart conditions and is not available in her country if residence (US). Also been lots of positives already this year from various Russian athletes.

Good article on BBC website for those of us who were initially gullible enough to feel sorry for her.

[forestfan]

Some sportspeople won't take a chance on any artificial substance. Others will take chances on anything they are led to believe is legal. Those in the latter category will often end up tripping themselves up and being branded cheats, it's very similar to the rich/celebrity tax "avoidance" schemes in that sense.

Sure she won't miss $100m anyway...

[unc.si.]

She just failed the stupidity test.

Very easy to dope in tennis and get away with it. Tennis and football might be marginally cleaner than athletics and cycling, but not by much.