{"id":195145,"date":"2016-04-13T04:24:35","date_gmt":"2016-04-13T11:24:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=195145"},"modified":"2016-04-13T07:05:58","modified_gmt":"2016-04-13T14:05:58","slug":"wada-may-show-mercy-on-meldonium-dopers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/wada-may-show-mercy-on-meldonium-dopers\/","title":{"rendered":"WADA May Show Mercy on Meldonium Dopers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Facing backlash from people calling meldonium positive tests a “trap drug<\/a>,” the World Anti-Doping Agency released a statement saying that it could have mercy on some athletes testing positive for meldonium.<\/p>\n

This is due to the large amount of appeals on meldonium positive tests that state that it is unknown exactly how long the drug can stay in someone’s system.<\/p>\n

WADA has now said that “provisional suspensions can be lifted if it is determined that an athlete took meldonium before it was placed on the list of banned substances on Jan. 1.”<\/p>\n

This would be for athletes who tested positive for less than 1 microgram of meldonium prior to March 1.<\/p>\n

Since meldonium has been placed on the banned list this year, 172\u00a0positive tests have occurred, including Russian swimming star Yuliya Efimova<\/strong> <\/a>as well as Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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WADA can confirm there have been 172 Adverse Analytical Findings (positives) for Meldonium since it was banned on 1st January 2016 #WADA<\/a><\/p>\n
— WADA (@wada_ama) April 13, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n