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Sharapova’s racket sponsor: meldonium shouldn’t be banned

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FILE - In this Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016, file photo, Maria Sharapova of Russia celebrates after defeating Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in their fourth round match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. Sharapova\'s racket supplier became the first main sponsor to publicly back the five-time Grand Slam champion after she admitted to failing a doping test. Austria-based company Head announced Thursday, March 10, 2016, it was planning to extend its sponsorship deal, three days after Sharapova revealed her use of the banned substance meldonium. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila, File)

VIENNA – Maria Sharapova’s racket supplier says the drug she tested positive for at the Australian Open shouldn’t be on the banned list.

Head CEO Johan Eliasch says the World Anti-Doping Agency should have imposed “a dosage limitation only” on meldonium instead of completely banning it as of Jan. 1.

Eliasch says Sharapova was taking the substance in such low doses that the drug couldn’t possibly have improved her performance.

He says he “would encourage WADA to release scientific studies which validates their claim that meldonium should be a banned substance.”

Eliasch on Thursday publicly backed Sharapova and announced a new racket deal with the five-time Grand Slam champion. The decision was called “a strange stance” by Andy Murray, who also plays with Head rackets.

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