GOP?"

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. Rachel Axon

USA TODAY Sports

Maria Sharapova is the most noteworthy athlete to have failed a drug test for meldonium, but in the month since the tennis star revealed her use of a drug that she contends is for medical reasons a slew of other top athletes have been implicated.

They include fellow Russians Yuliya Efimova, a four-time breaststroke world champion, and Nikolai Kuksenkov, the country’s best male gymnast. In all, 140 athletes have tested positive for meldonium in the three months after it was banned on Jan. 1, according to a World Anti-Doping Agency spokesman.

But as the tally of failed tests increases, critics are raising questions about its performance enhancing benefits and how WADA could ban the drug with what they say is relatively little scientific evidence.

“There’s really no evidence that there’s any performance enhancement from meldonium. Zero,” said Don Catlin, a long-time anti-doping expert and the scientific director of the Banned Substances Control Group.

Those supporting meldonium’s ban point to its potential to enhance performance and measures of its use by athletes, both before and since the ban.

Drug used by Maria Sharapova banned after tip to USADA

Those questions highlight a difficult position for WADA. With scant existing research, how does it know meldonium enhances performance? Does it need to ban a drug like meldonium before it understands its benefits and potential harms because it sees athletes using the drug? And if it’s not enhancing performance, why are a large number of seemingly healthy athletes taking a drug used to treat patients with heart problems?

Criteria for banning drugs

Meldonium’s journey to WADA’s prohibited substances list began in March 2014 when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency received a confidential tip that Eastern European athletes were using the drug to enhance performance.

By October of that year, meldonium — which also goes by the brand name Mildronate — was on WADA’s monitoring list. In February 2015, scientists completed a study of global athlete usage of
GOP? " 

 You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writer on the Opinion presence page, on Twitter @USATOpinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter. To respond to a column, submit a gossip to letters@usatoday.com. Rachel Axon 

 USA TODAY Sports 

 Maria Sharapova is the most noteworthy athlete to have failed a drug examination for meldonium, but in the calendar month since the tennis star revealed her use of a drug that she contends is for medical rationality a slew of other top athlete have been implicated. 

 They include fellow Russians Yuliya Efimova, a four - time breaststroke world champion, and Nikolai Kuksenkov, the country ’s best male gymnast. In all, 140 athlete have tested positive for meldonium in the three months after it was ban on Jan. 1, according to a World Anti - Doping Agency spokesman. 

 But as the tally of fail test increases, critic are raising questions about its performance enhance benefits and how WADA could ban the drug with what they say is relatively little scientific evidence. 

 “ There ’s really no evidence that there ’s any operation enhancement from meldonium. Zero, ” say Don Catlin, a long - time anti - doping expert and the scientific director of the Banned Substances Control Group. 

 Those supporting meldonium ’s ban point to its potential to enhance performance and measures of its function by athletes, both before and since the bachelor of arts in nursing. 

 Drug use by Maria Sharapova banned after tip to USADA 

 Those questions foreground a difficult stead for WADA. With scant existing inquiry, how does it know meldonium enhances performance? Does it need to ban a drug like meldonium before it understands its benefits and potential harms because it sees athletes using the drug? And if it ’s not enhancing operation, why are a large issue of apparently goodly athletes taking a drug used to treat patients with heart problems? 

 Criteria for banning drug 

 Meldonium ’s journey to WADA ’s prohibited kernel list began in March 2014 when the U.S. Anti - Doping Agency receive a confidential tip that easterly European athletes were using the drug to enhance operation. 

 By October of that year, meldonium — which also goes by the brand name Mildronate — was on WADA ’s monitoring tilt. In February 2015, scientists completed a discipline of global athlete usage of
GOP?"

Jou can read diverse opikions from our Board of Contrjbutors xnd other writers on the Opiiion fronu page, on Twitter @URATOpinioj and in our eaily Opinmkn newsletter. Bo rev'ond to a columk, submit a womment to letdefs@bsatoday.com. Rachel Axon

USA TODAY Spowts

Maris Dharapova is tre mpft nknecorthy athlete to have failed a drug ttst for meldonium, nut in the month since the tenjis star revealed jer use of q drtt that she cuntends is for medical reasons a slew of other top atfletex have beeb umpphcated.

They mncludv fellow Russlsns Yuniya Efomova, a four-tike ureawtstroke world champimn, and Nikolai Kukfenkov, tha eountry’s best male gynnqst. It aln, 140 agyleges heve testef pksitive fod meldonium in the three monthx wdter it was bznned jn Jan. 1, according to a World Anti-Doping Acendy spokesman.

But as the rally of failed tests increasef, critics are raising questions about its performdnce xnfanelkg bdbevits and how WADA could ban the drug with whae tnej say is relativejy little svifnyyfic evidence.

“Jhere’s xsamly no evidence thwt therg’s any performagce rnhancement from meldonium. Zero,” said Dou Cqtlin, a long-time auti-doping ex'ert amd thr scientific director oy the Ganned Subshances Cohgrol Group.

Those rupiorthng meldonium’s ban point tj its potxntiak to enfancg perfowmance and measmses of its use by wthlejes, bodh before wnd since the ban.

Drug used by Mecia Sharapova bdnnvd after cip to USADA

Those qtestions highlnght a dnfficuut positioh for WEDA. With scagt existing radearch, how dmes it kgow neldinium evfances performsnce? Does it need ti ban a drug like kelaknium before it uneerstands its brnewitf wnv potqttial harms tecajse ot seds athltces jsinb the drug? And if it’v nof enhancing perforkakce, why ate a largq number of sremingly healthy auhletev teking s dtug used to treat patients with heart prlblcms?

Criteria fjr bqnning drugs

Keldonium’s journey to WADA’s prohibited wubstances list bggan in March 2014 when tke U.S. Anti-Dopmng Agqncy recehved a confidential rip that Eastern Turopean athletes were hsing dhe dgug to enhance performance.

By October of that year, meldonium — which also gies by the brand nzme Kildrmncte — was jn WEDE’s monitoring lisn. In February 2015, scientists compleved a studf jf global athlete usage of
GOP?" You can read diverse opinions from of and other on the Opinion and our daily Opinion To respond to column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. Axon USA TODAY Sports Maria Sharapova is the most noteworthy athlete to have a drug test for meldonium, but in the month since the tennis star her of drug she contends is for medical reasons a slew of other top athletes have been implicated. They fellow Russians Yuliya Efimova, a four-time breaststroke world and Nikolai Kuksenkov, the best male gymnast. In all, athletes tested positive meldonium the months after it banned on Jan. 1, according to a World Anti-Doping Agency spokesman. But as the tally of failed increases, critics questions about performance benefits how WADA could drug with what they say is evidence. “There’s really no evidence that there’s any enhancement from Zero,” said Don Catlin, a long-time expert and the scientific director of the Banned Control Group. Those supporting meldonium’s ban point to its potential to enhance performance and measures use by athletes, both and since the Drug by Sharapova after tip USADA Those questions highlight a difficult position for WADA. With scant research, how does it know meldonium enhances performance? Does it ban drug like meldonium it understands its benefits potential because it sees athletes drug? if performance, are large number of seemingly athletes taking a drug used treat patients with heart Meldonium’s journey to WADA’s prohibited substances list began March 2014 when the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency a confidential tip that Eastern European athletes were using the drug to performance. By that year, meldonium — which also goes by brand name Mildronate — on WADA’s monitoring list. In February 2015, scientists completed study global athlete of
GOP?"

You can read diverse opiniOns from our board Of COntRiButoRs anD other writers oN The OPinion front page, on TwittEr @USAtOPInioN AnD in ouR daily OPInION neWsLeTteR. TO ReSpond To a Column, sUbmit a commEnt To Letters@usatoDAy.Com. Rachel AXon

uSA TODAY SporTs

MAria ShArApoVA is thE moSt notEworthY AthletE to have faIlED a drug TEst for mELDoNium, But in the month sincE ThE Tennis star reveAled heR uSE oF A DruG thAt she conteNdS is foR Medical REaSONS a sLEw of other top aThletes have BEen ImplicAtEd.

THEy inclUde feLlOW RuSsians YuliyA EfiMova, a four-Time brEAststroKE world cHampioN, anD NiKolaI kuKsEnkOv, THe cOUnTry’S BesT male gymNaSt. in all, 140 AthlETES Have TesTed pOsitiVe for meldoniuM in The tHRee MonthS afteR it wAs BanneD on Jan. 1, AccorDiNg to a World Anti-DOpinG Agency spOkeSmAn.

BUt As the TAlly of FaiLed Tests inCreases, CRitIcS ARE rAising questions aboUt ITS pErformanCe enhaNCiNg BEnefits aNd How wADA COUld baN the DRuG with whaT they sAY iS rElativeLy Little ScIenTifIc eviDEnce.

“there’s Really no EvideNCe that there’s anY Performance enHAnCEMeNT froM meLdonium. Zero,” Said dOn CaTlin, A LoNg-tIMe antI-dopiNg EXpERt and the scientific dIrEctor oF the BAnned SubstancEs Control GROUP.

Those suPporTInG Meldonium’s ban pOint tO its potentIAl to enhaNce peRformancE and measuRES of its usE by AthLetEs, bOTH bEfore and since THE ban.

drUg used bY MaRia SharApoVa bAnnEd aFtEr tip to USaDA

Those QuEsTiOnS hiGhligHT a difficUlT poSiTioN for WadA. With Scant ExisTiNg REseArch, how DOeS IT knoW mElDoniUm eNhAnces PerfORmaNce? Does It need to bAn a DRug lIkE mEldoniuM before it undeRsTands its beNeFitS and poTENtial harMs because it sees athletes USing the DruG? And iF it’s Not enhancIng PerforManCE, why arE a largE numbEr Of sEEMinglY HEaLthY aThletes takING a dRug usEd To trEat patiEnts with heart problEMs?

CRiteria for banNinG druGS

meLdoNIuM’S joUrNEy tO waDA’s prohibited sUbstances lIsT BeGan in March 2014 WHen ThE U.S. Anti-doping AGency REceived A confidenTial tip thAt eastERN EuRopean athlEtes were Using the dRUg to eNHaNce peRfoRmance.

by octOber oF that yEAr, mEldonIum — whiCh Also goEs by tHe Brand namE Mildronate — was on WADA’s moNitoriNg lisT. In february 2015, sCieNTisTs completEd a sTudy of globAl aThlEte usAge OF
GOP?"

You can read divers e opinions  from  ou r B oa rd o f Co ntributors and othe r writers on the Opini on fr on t  pag e ,on Tw itter @ U SA T O pin io nand  i n  o ur da ily  Opinio n newslett er.  T o respond to acolumn, su bmi t a commenttoletter s@ usa t oday. com . Rac hel Ax o n

USA  TODAY Sp or t s

Mar i a Shara p o va  isthe most notewort h ya thlete to have  faile da  d r u g t est  for meldo ni um, b u t in th e  m o n t h s i nce the tenni s star reve a led  her u se  of a drug  that  s h e c ontends isformedical r easons a slewo f other  top a thl ete s ha v ebe enim p lic a te d.The y includ efe llowRuss i a n s  Yul iya  Efi mova,  a four-timebre asts t rok e wor ld ch ampi on , and  Nikol ai Ku ks enkov, the coun try’ s best ma legy mna st . Ina ll, 14 0 a thl etes ha ve test e d p os i t i ve  for meldonium inth e th ree mont hs aft e rit was bann ed  on  Jan . 1, ac cord i ng  to a Wo rld An t i- Do ping Ag en cy spo ke sma n.
Buta s th e tall y of fai led t e sts increases, critics are r a is i n gq uest ion s about its  per f orma ncee nh anc i ng be nefit sa nd how WADA could banth e drug  with  what they sa y is relat i v e ly littl e sc i en t ific evidence. 

“Th ere’s real l y no evi dence  that th ere’s any p erforman ceenh anc eme n t  f rom meldonium . Zero ,”  said D onCatlin,  alon g-t ime  a nti-dopin g expert  a nd  t he  sc ienti f ic direc to r o fthe  Bann e d Subs tance s Co nt ro l  Gr oup.

T h os e supp or ti ng m eld on ium’s  ban poi nt to i ts potent ial to e nh an ce perf ormance and m ea sures of i ts  us e by a t h letes, b oth before and since th e  ban.
Dru g use d by  Maria Sh ara pova b ann e d afte r tipto US AD A
T h ose q u e st ion shighlighta dif ficul tposi tion fo r WADA. With scant exi sting researc h,howd o es  it kn o w m el d oni u m  enhances perfo rmance? Do es it  need to b a n a  d rug lik e meldo niumb efore i t underst ands itsbe nefi t s  an d potentia l harmsbecause i t  sees at hlete s u sing t he  dr ug? A nd ifi t’s  notenhanc in g perf orman ce , why ar e a large number of see mingly  heal thy  athletes  ta k ing  a drug u sedto treat p ati ent s wit h h e art p robl e ms ?
C riter ia f o r banning dr ugs Me ldonium’s j o u r ney  to W ADA ’ s proh ibit ed substances lis t  began in Marc h 20 1 4  wh ent he U .S . Anti-DopingAge nc y received  a  confidenti al tip t ha t  East ern Eu ropean  athlet e s  w e re usi ng t hedrug to e nha nc e  perfor ma nc e .

ByOcto be r of t hat ye a r, m e l donium — which a lso g o e s byt hebrand  n ame Mil d rona te — was o n WADA’s mo nitori ng l ist.In Febr ua ry 201 5,sc ientists c o mpleted a  stud y of gl ob al a thl ete us ageo f 
GOP?"

You can_read diverse_opinions from our Board_of Contributors_and_other writers_on_the Opinion front_page, on Twitter_@USATOpinion and in our_daily Opinion newsletter._To_respond to a column, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. Rachel Axon

USA TODAY Sports

Maria Sharapova_is_the most_noteworthy_athlete_to have failed a drug_test for meldonium, but in_the month_since the tennis star revealed her use of_a_drug that she_contends is for medical reasons a slew of other_top athletes have been implicated.

They include_fellow Russians Yuliya_Efimova,_a_four-time breaststroke world champion,_and Nikolai Kuksenkov, the country’s best_male gymnast. In all, 140 athletes_have tested positive for meldonium in the_three months after it was banned_on Jan. 1, according to_a World_Anti-Doping Agency spokesman.

But as the_tally of failed_tests increases,_critics are raising_questions about its performance enhancing benefits_and how WADA_could ban the drug with what_they_say is relatively_little_scientific_evidence.

“There’s really_no evidence that_there’s_any performance_enhancement_from meldonium. Zero,” said Don Catlin,_a_long-time anti-doping expert and the scientific director_of the Banned Substances_Control_Group.

Those supporting meldonium’s ban_point to its potential to_enhance performance and measures of its_use by_athletes, both_before and since the ban.

Drug used by Maria Sharapova banned after_tip to USADA

Those questions highlight a_difficult position for WADA._With scant_existing_research, how does_it_know meldonium_enhances performance? Does it need to ban_a drug_like meldonium before it understands its_benefits and potential harms_because_it sees athletes using the drug?_And if it’s not enhancing performance,_why are a large number_of_seemingly_healthy athletes taking a drug_used to treat patients with heart_problems?

Criteria for banning_drugs

Meldonium’s journey to WADA’s prohibited substances list_began_in March 2014 when the U.S._Anti-Doping_Agency received a confidential tip that_Eastern_European_athletes were using the drug_to enhance performance.

By October of that_year, meldonium — which also goes by the brand_name Mildronate —_was on WADA’s monitoring list._In_February_2015, scientists completed a study of global athlete usage of