Apparently in Russia it is regularly taken to prevent/manage diabetes. I'm not buying her story though, not one bit
^
There was something on Channel 4 news earlier today about this, i didn't catch it all, but apparently they contacted the company that makes the stuff she has been taking, [can't remember it's name] and they said it wasn't used for preventing or managing diabetes, also it wasn't used to improve low magnesium levels either, i think she also mentions having low levels of magnesium levels as well .
I might of got this a bit wrong, as i wasn't taking a lot of notice of channel 4 at the time .
I have read that it can stabilise blood sugars but most reports say it is primarily for treating angina and heart problems.
I found this on Sky Sports web site:
The drug is made by the Latvian company Grindeks and is widely exported to Russia, where Sharapova is from, and several neighbouring countries as a drug for people with heart conditions. It is also offered for sale online.
The manufacturer's website says meldonium gives sufferers of heart and circulatory conditions more "physical capacity and mental function" - and a similar boost to healthy individuals. Grindeks said the normal course of treatment for the drug is four to six weeks.
The company added in a statement: "Treatment course can be repeated twice or thrice a year.
"Only physicians can follow and evaluate patient's health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time."
The firm had previously said the drug could provide "improvement of work capacity of healthy people at physical and mental overloads and during rehabilitation period," but Grindeks said on Tuesday that it believed meldonium would not enhance athletes' performance in competition, and might even do the opposite.
Sharapova was the second Russian sportswoman to announce a positive test for meldonium on Monday.
Figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova told Russian agency R-Sport that she had tested positive at January's European Championships, and was ruled out of the World Championships as a result. Russian cyclist Eduard Vorganov also tested positive last month.
Swedish media reported that same month that former world champion 1,500 metre runner Abeba Aregawi had tested positive for the drug.
There have also been two other cases involving Ukrainian biathlete
Article on the BBC Sport website about Meldonium :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/35758901
Quote:Following Sharapova's announcement, Russian supplements website RUPharma told BBC Sport it is had sold 150 packets of the drug in 24 hours, compared with 850 in the past 12 months.
The website says it has increased the price of a packet of 40 250mg tablets from £15 to £27 and employ a new member of staff to deal with the demand.
I don't believe it!
Oh, wait, that's Meldrewnium
There is no conceivable legitimate medical indication for the drug meldonium in a super-fit and healthy young world class athlete. Put it another way, if she had a cardiac problem serious enough to warrant meldonium, she would not be a serious athlete. Performance enhancing for sure. She and her advisers took their eyes off the ball regarding monitoring the changes to the regs that banned it.
Will be interesting to see how Laura Robson does against Rybarikova in 1st round of Indian Wells tonight(Thursday).
Edit she lost 7-6, 6-2
In terms of Maria Sharapova, the drug she was taking is used by people with a family history of Type 1 Diabetes as well as for people with Heart problems.
Good win for Victoria Azarenka beating Serena Williams to win Indian Wells 6-4, 6-4
Jo Konta did well earlier in the week too
Seems Raymond Moore has had to resign after his comments that female tennis rides off the coat tails of the men and that female tennis should get down on their numbers and be thankfully for Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal as they have carried the game.
Have to say I wonder given he thinks that Roger and Rafa have carried game why he doesn't think the other male players should do the same as the female players.
In other news Naomi Broady and Katie Swan both lost in final qualifying round of Sony Ericsson Open in Miami. Katie who is 16 shocked Lauren Davis WR102 in first round. James Ward lost in final qualifying round in the men's tournament.
Laura Robson take a wildcard into tournament and plays Kirsten Flipkens tonight(Tuesday)