SHARAPOVA DRUG ADMISSION: HOW DO ATHLETES KNOW WHATS BANNED?

Maria Sharapova provided her fateful sample after her quarter-final defeat to Serena Williams at January's Australian Open. Credit: Reuters

It is no news that Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova has admitted to taking the banned substance Meldonium after ignoring changes to anti-doping rules.

But who declares which drugs are banned and how do athletes learn of the changes?

Here's a guide to how drug-use is monitored in sport:

Who declares which drugs are banned?

The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) issues an annual banned list of substances applicable across all sports.

The international independent agency - funded by sports and world governments - published its latest list on September 29 last year.

Meldonium was added to the list of "substances and methods ... prohibited at all times ... both in and out of competition" because of "evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance”.

WadaThe latest Wada prohibited list was issued in late September before taking effect on January 1 2016. 

How does Wada communicate with athletes?

Sharapova said Wada sent her an email on December 22 to inform her of the changes to the 2016 banned list, which were to take effect from January 1 2016.

She said she failed to "click" on a link to the email attachment which would have shown that the drug she had used for a decade was now off-limits.

It had already been added to the list of drugs being monitored in 2015 prior to being outlawed.

if the facts  are as straight forward as she has put it, then, then, she could possibly have a case for an honest mistake. The intention which is the guilty mind must necessarily coalesce with the unlawful act of doping itself to crystallize into an offence before she can be found guilty. The fact that she initially took it for medical purposes certainly inures in her favour all the more.

All in all, a more effective means of communicating developments such as these by the World Anti-Doping Agency should be evolved by the agency to forestall defences such as these no matter how flimsy. Yes, she was sent the email detailing the new regulations on banned substances but how many of us actually bother to open that attachment to an email ?

There certainly has to be a case for an honest mistake here. Coming out to admit to such an act at a time when the whole world is reeling from the shock of doping by athletes who surreptitiously and reflectively indulge in this heinous act with the sole intention to cheat should be commended if not encouraged by giving a lenient sentence.

Credit: itv news