MELDONIUM MEANT FOR "FOUR TO SIX WEEKS USE" AT A TIME- DRUG MANUFACTURERS

Maria Sharapova has admitted taking Mildonate, aka Meldonium, which became a banned substance for athletes early this year Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/ Reuters

Meldonium, the newly banned substance former world tennis number one Maria Sharapova has admitted to taking for 10 years, is reportedly only meant to be used for 'four to six weeks' at a time.

According to a statement emailed to the Associated Press the manufacturers of the drug said it is usually only administered for a short time but prescriptions can be repeated two or three times a year under medical advisement.

It is unclear whether Sharapova took the drug consistently for long periods over the last decade or whether the use of the substance was intermittent.

• Meldonium: the banned substance Sharapova admits using

Depending on the patient's health condition, treatment course of meldonium preparations may vary from four to six weeks.

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.

– MELDONIUM MANUFACTURER GRINDEKS