For as long as I can remember, Maria Sharapova was my idol. I used to joke that by following in my family's athletic traditions, there was a tennis racket in my hand from the moment my hand had the strength in it to grasp one. I loved, and still do love the sport, but as a child, I was obsessed. I could hardly wait for my tennis lessons each week and just wanted to play and watch more. When my parents would take my brothers and I to the U.S. Open every August, there was always one person I begged to see: Maria Sharapova, the now five-time Grand Slam winner and one of the highest paid female athletes. My brothers would taunt that she, of course, was not scheduled to play that day. This would mean I would attach myself to the practice courts for the entire day, yearning to get a glimpse of my role model and maybe, if I was lucky, even get an autograph from her when she was done practicing.
In the last week, news has surfaced that Sharapova admitted to failing a drug test given to her in January, the day she lost in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to Serena Williams. When I originally saw this 'New York Times' update pop-up on my phone, I was stunned. How could this be true? Admittedly, I have not paid as much attention to Sharapova and the sport as a whole the past few years, but still, this was Maria Sharapova we were talking about; this was my idol. With some further investigation, it seems the story goes way past the two-sentence news update that initially had me shocked.
In her press conference, the one where reporters first thought she would announce her retirement, Sharapova explains that she has been taking the drug meldonium since 2006 when it was prescribed by a family doctor for health-related issues. This drug, under a different name, was then banned for use by professional tennis players starting in 2016. Sharapova claims she was not aware of the change and does indeed take full responsibility for her actions and for not double checking the list of banned drugs. Since her announcement, many other professional athletes have also tested positive for taking this same drug.
Sharapova could face a couple of years in suspension according to the rules. Because of the fact that Sharapova was taking a prescribed dose, one probably not high enough to enhance her athletic performance, I do hope she does get a second chance to show the world how truly amazing of an athlete she is. I will forever look up to Sharapova, and I will forever admire her as one of the greatest female tennis players of all time.
