The Belarusian tested positive for the banned substance at the Australian Open. (AP Photo)
Sergey Betov is an ATP player you’ve likely never heard of, but pay close attention. The 28-year-old Belarusian was found to have committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation involving meldonium on January 21 at the Australian Open this year. Now, does that sound familiar?
Today, the International Tennis Federation issued a press release stating that Betov has been found at no fault for the failed drug test and is free to compete starting immediately. He’s ranked No. 77 in doubles (and No. 512 in singles).
The statement explained that if the concentration of meldonium is below 1 μg/mL in a sample collected prior to March 1, 2016, then it’s compatible with intake prior to January 2016 (the drug appeared on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list starting January 1). The release also says that if WADA finds that “the athlete could not have reasonable known or suspected” that the drug would be in his or her body after January 1, then “a finding of no fault or negligence may be made.”
Betov had 136 ng/ML in his system. The ITF accepted that it was likely from Mildronate tables taken in October 2015.
What does this mean for Maria Sharapova’s impending court decision? The five-time Slam champion is currently in the midst of a similar case after testing positive for meldonium, also during the Australian Open.
The ITF has said the Russian's case will take two to three months, but this latest development must be seen as nothing but good news for the Sharapova camp.