Vilgax
2013 World track and field 1,500 champion Abeba Aregawi of Sweden tested positive for traces of meldonium. I've never heard of this drug before (although I'm guessing use of it is widespread - not likely that Aregawi was the first and only person who thought to give it a try).
From:
TT reported Monday evening that the A sample contains traces of the banned substance meldonium.
Studies have shown that meldonium improves energy metabolism in the heart muscle cells - and is used in treatment including Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's, says Åke Andrén-Sandberg, a medical expert at the Swedish Sports Doping Commission.
- Today it can be considered reasonably safe to meldoniums effect can be traced to the mitochondria ( "cellular power plants"), which is interesting because mitochondria are found in all cells in the body, making it possible to meldonium could affect any organ in the body that can benefit a better energy metabolism, says Andren-Sandberg said.
- This has been used to some degree in the study of neurons and thus there are small studies (or hypotheses) to use the preparation after stroke as well as in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. One can not see that there is scientific evidence showing that the preparation has no effect in this context. There is a report which claims that meldonium increases alertness and another that increases learning ability.
The subject ended up on the international doping agency WADA's list only on 1 January this year.
Editor's update: Tennis star Maria Sharapova has also tested positive for this same drug. Now that Sharapova has tested positive, this thread is super popular on google. Tennis fans, a LetsRun.com visitor by the name of Jake Shelley wrote a great 1,270 word article on "What Is Meldonium/Mildronate?"
You'll find out a lot of info in it about the drug that both Aregawi and Sharapova were busted for if you read it here:
https://jakegshelley.wordpress.com/2016/03/03/what-is-melodoniummildronate/
You can also get a lot more info by scrolling down below and reading what our messageboard posters have said about the drug. Feel free to post what you know about it. No registrstation or email address is required to post. You can post anonymously. Here is a thread devoted exclusively to Sharapova: