Sharapova drug makers: 'Meldonium is usually only used for 4-6 weeks, not 10 years'

Updated 08/03/2016 at 16:45 GMT

The Latvian makers of meldonium have said the standard treatment for taking the drug is four to six weeks, not the 10 years Maria Sharapova says she was was using it.

Russia's Maria Sharapova reacts during a news conference after losing her quarter-final match against Serena Williams of the U.S. at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 26, 2016.

Image credit: Reuters

The Russian five-times Grand Slam winner failed a doping test at the Australian Open in January for taking meldonium, a drug that was banned by WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) at the outset of January.

The substance has been banned because it assists the body's ability to taken on oxygen and boost endurance.

"It is very important for you to understand that for 10 years this medicine was not on WADA's banned list and I had been legally taking that medicine for the past 10 years," said Sharapova at a media conference on Monday evening."

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Speaking to the Associated Press, Grindeks, the Lavian manufacturers of meldonium, explained the reasons for taking the drug.

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 a patient's health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time."

The company said the drug was to help patients with chronic heart and circulation problems.

"It would be reasonable to recommend them to use meldonium as a cell protector to avoid heart failure or muscle damage in case of unwanted overload."

What is meldonium and what does it do?

The chemical structure of meldonium. Hydrogen atoms are white, carbon are black, oxygen is red and nitrogen blue. It is typically used to treat angina and myocardial infarction

Also known as mildronate, meldonium is used to treat chest pain and heart attacks among other conditions.
The drug works by treating ischaemia, a lack of blood flow to parts of the body. It dilates blood vessels and increases blood flow.
It is made in Latvia and licensed in several European countries - including Russia - though it is not approved for use in the USA

Why is it banned?

It is listed by WADA as an 'S4' substance, along with other prohibited metabolic modulators including insulin, as some researchers say it can also help recovery.
Researchers have also linked it to increased athletic performance and endurance.
WADA made the decision to ban it last September, with the decision coming in to force on January 1st. The organisation cited "evidence of its use by athletes with the intention of enhancing performance" when it introduced the ban.
According to the US National Library of Medicine (as cited by health24.com), it improves users' mood and allows them to become more active.