Serena Williams lauds Sharapova for owning up to failed drug test
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Serena Williams, left, listened as Caroline Wozniacki talked to reporters during a news conference in New York, today. Williams says Maria Sharapova “showed a lot of courage” in taking responsibility for her failed drug test.
NEW YORK » Serena Williams says Maria Sharapova “showed a lot of courage” in taking responsibility for her failed drug test.
On Monday, the Russian star revealed she tested positive the day she lost to Williams in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January. At a news conference today to promote an exhibition at Madison Square Garden, Williams didn’t want to talk about the fact she had faced an opponent with a banned substance in her system.
The 21-time Grand Slam champion said that like the rest of the sports world, she was “surprised and shocked” to hear the news about Sharapova.
“I think most people were happy she was upfront and very honest and showed a lot of courage to admit to what she had done and what she had neglected to look at in terms of the list at the end of the year,” Williams said.
Sharapova announced she tested positive for meldonium, a blood flow-promoting drug she said she had been taking for 10 years for various health issues. Meldonium was banned because it aids oxygen uptake and endurance, and players were notified of the changes in the WADA banned substances list in December. Sharapova claimed she simply neglected to click on the link.
She could face a long ban from the International Tennis Federation, possibly ending her season and preventing her from competing at the Olympics.
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“It’s just taking responsibility, which she admitted that she was willing to do and ready to do,” Williams said. “Just hope for the best for everybody in that situation.”
Sharapova and Williams have had some barbed words for each other in the past off the court, but today, Williams was fully supportive. While Sharapova is one of her biggest rivals based on the Russian’s results and five major titles, Williams has dominated the head-to-head series, winning the last 18 meetings over more than a decade.
“As Maria said, she’s ready to take full responsibility,” Williams said. “She showed a lot of courage and a lot of heart. I think she’s always shown courage and heart in everything she’s done, and this is no different.”
A fellow Nike endorser, Williams declined to comment on the shoe company’s decision to suspend its relationship with Sharapova.
Two-time Grand Slam finalist Caroline Wozniacki, who faces Williams in the exhibit tonight, agreed with her good friend’s assessment of Sharapova’s announcement. Wozniacki acknowledged, though, the lengths elite athletes typically go through to ensure they don’t accidentally ingest banned substances.
“Any time we take any medication, we double, triple and quadruple check, because sometimes even things like cough drops or nasal sprays can be on the list,” Wozniacki said. “I think as athletes we always make sure to really make sure there’s nothing in it.”
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Justine Henin, who was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame today, said many questions needed to be answered before she could judge Sharapova’s case.
“I think we’re all a little bit sad and disappointed about the situation,” she said on a conference call. “It’s never good for the game.”
Marat Safin, who today became the first Russian elected to the Tennis Hall, agreed, noting that it’s not uncommon for players to miss that a substance has been added to the banned list. He said he believed that Sharapova did not intend to cheat, but then quickly added: “I want to believe so.”
14 responses to “Serena Williams lauds Sharapova for owning up to failed drug test”
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she was taking this legally for ten years and then two months ago they make it a banned substance? so all of a sudden its a PED? give me a break. Sharapova is going to get banned for two years for no good reason.
yup that is pretty lame!
Agree…
She, like many other Russian athletes, have taken meldonium for years to enhance performance. Sure, she was smart to announce the failed test herself. It was coming out anyway, and this gave her a chance to toss in some lame excuses. Don’t buy it.
The drug’s manufacturer says that the drug is normally taken for 4 to 6 weeks when used for its intended purpose, not 10 years. It is a known and not infrequently used PED in other sports. In spite of her protestations to the contrary, it’s impossible to believe that she was taking it for 10 years as treatment for a medical condition and that the fact that it is a PED was just a coincidence.
Sharapova is a victim and btw it does not matter now, her best time is over.
If the WADA keeps adding banned substances, cannot take ANY type of medication.
Like East Germany, Russia is notorious for sports drug abuse. I don’t think Melonium was suddenly declared illegal. It’s been around for a while and has been researched for some time to carefully determine if it’s a drug or substance that should not be used in professional athletes seeking an advantage. This has been determined to drug to cheat. Sharapova had world class trainers and doctors most likely supplied by the Russian Federation. Same organization that might be banned from the Olympics. It is a well-practiced strategy to take performance enhancers and stop so many days before a test so that the drug levels become undetectable. It’s used by criminals and parolees who think drinking lots of water with vinegar will clean out their pipes. But the officials know that and requested and received a new line of gas chromatography machines lovingly called “Supersleuths”. I call them “Gotcha Machines”. Sharapova chanced it and lost. Don’t be fooled by her pretty face, hot bod, or crocodile tears. The Russians are masters of fake public relations and the art of lies. Apologizing helps. So easy to fake. It’s just hot air. Sharapova should be banned. She chanced it and lost. Russia lost. Corrupt evil empire.
Like East Germany, Russia is notorious for sports drug abuse. I don’t think Melonium was suddenly declared illegal. It’s been around for a while and has been researched for some time to carefully determine if it’s a drug or substance that should not be used in professional athletes seeking an advantage. This has been determined to drug to cheat. Sharapova had world class trainers and doctors most likely supplied by the Russian Federation. Same organization that might be banned from the Olympics. It is a well-practiced strategy to take performance enhancers and stop so many days before a test so that the drug levels become undetectable. It’s used by criminals and parolees who think drinking lots of water with vinegar will clean out their pipes. But the officials know that and requested and received a new line of gas chromatography machines lovingly called “Supersleuths”. I call them “Gotcha Machines”. Sharapova chanced it and lost. Don’t be fooled by her pretty face, hot bod, or crocodile tears. The Russians are masters of fake public relations and the art of lies. Apologizing helps. So easy to fake. It’s just hot air. Sharapova should be banned. She chanced it and lost. Russia lost. Corrupt evil empire.
When looking at Serena Williams childhood and earlier pictures compared to what she looks like now, it appears she is definitely on the juice.
If she was she would have been caught already. I’m sure the authorities have already inspected her gender and verified she is a she. She is a freak of nature. A natural born athlete. Girl with a linebacker body. Bet she could give Ronda Rousey and the new champ Miesha Tate (she just beat Holly Holm last night) a challenge.
Nick Bollettieri said she is the most amazingly gifted physical specimen he has ever seen.
You can win or loose [or tie] but sometimes you get to loose twice at the same time! An accident ???? …. I doubt it!
This is the truth of the core of the matter. We all make mistakes and the courage to own up to mistakes is how we grow as people. The coverup is always worse than the mistake, in fact it’s like doubling down on a mistake, when we need to lessen the effect of an error. We will always think that Christopher Deedy was responsible for ending Kollin Elderts’ life, even though Elderts antagonized Deedy to some extent. If Elderts had threatened the entire McDonald’s for example, then Deedy would have been justified to use deadly force. Other than that, a human life, any human life is precious and we all live only once, so let’s take responsibility !!!