Andy Murray has stated that Maria Sharapova must accept full responsibility after testing positive for a banned substance earlier this year.
The Russian tennis star, a five-time Grand Slam champion, announced that she had failed a drug test for meldonium — a substance recently added to the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) prohibited list. Sharapova, 28, said she had been taking the medication for a decade for health-related reasons.
However, Murray, currently ranked world number two, believes that athletes need to be fully aware of changes to anti-doping regulations and take responsibility for any violations.
“If you’re using performance-enhancing substances and fail a test, you’ve got to face suspension,” Murray said. “It’s as simple as that.”
Sharapova’s positive test came from a sample taken during the Australian Open in January, shortly after meldonium became a banned substance on January 1. She is set to begin a provisional suspension starting on March 12.
While Sharapova maintains that her use of meldonium was for medical purposes, Murray emphasized the importance of staying informed and accountable as a professional athlete.
“It’s part of our job to know what we’re putting into our bodies,” he added. “Regardless of the reasons, if a substance is on the banned list, we have to follow the rules.”
The case sparked widespread discussion across the tennis world, with opinions divided on whether Sharapova should be given leniency or held strictly to the rules.
For Murray, the key issue is fairness and responsibility in sport — principles he believes must apply equally to all players.
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