Fight with Povetkin Wilder will be canceled due to meldonium

Zavileysky: It is unlikely that this situation will end well, and is likely to fight with Povetkin Wilder will be canceled due to meldonium

Russian promoter, an expert in the world of boxing and martial arts Zavileysky commented Sergey positive doping test for meldonium of Alexander Povetkin.

The evening of May 13, it became known that the doping test heavyweight boxer Alexander Povetkin of Russia gave a positive result on meldonium. In view of this situation the planned May 21 title fight with Povetkin Deonteem Wilder for a world championship belt by the WBC was in jeopardy.

- According to ESPN, Povetkin doping test was positive for the banned drug meldonium. What do you think about it?

- Contents of meldonium in blood of Povetkin is in minimum level. If the sample was submitted before March 1, there were no issues. On March 1, if an athlete is found in the blood of 1 microgram per billion meldonium agent - it does not mean automatic disqualification. The blood of Povetkin contains 1 microgram, more specifically 70 ng (0.7 micrograms). According to the rules on the admission decision in this case takes the regulator authority.

In general, the situation with meldonium is very strange, because I still do not understand the time of it removal from the body. According to doctors, the half-life meldonium is 12 hours of completely eliminated from the body. Caught it in most cases, athletes from the former Soviet Union, as meldonium (Mildronate 500mg) – is a purely Soviet design, in Western countries almost nothing is known about Mildronate injection. Paradoxically, Russia was one of the countries that advocated the introduction of meldonium (Mildronate 500mg) to the list of banned substances.

Inventor of Mildronate 500mg - Latvian professor Ivar Kalvins - refuses to consider Meldonium as a drug doping: "A detailed study of pharmacology and biochemistry confirmed that Meldonium reduces the level of carnitine in the body and maintains the speed of metabolism. This allows the cells to compensate for the lack of oxygen during physical exertion. Meldonium (Mildronate) is a protective drug that does not lead to an increase in energy efficiency and the improvement of human physical abilities. "

Nevertheless, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) classifies Mildronate 500mg to extremely serious doping. Why, if the drug is harmless and the public, it is not just forbid, but also so severely punished for its use? This question is also the answer given Kalvins: "I think it's the lobby of carnitine producers. This drug is the most common nutritional supplement used by athletes and bodybuilders. Our group, which once developed Meldonium, stated that carnitine - not a harmless tool, it can affect the development of atherosclerosis. Carnitine manufacturers seek to maintain their business and by all means try to affect competition or those who talk about the negative qualities of this drug. "

- What are the penalties for the use of this drug?

- World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has classified Meldonium to a class of hormones and modulators of metabolism, for the use of which faces up to four years of suspension. If it is proven unintentional admission of Mildronate, disqualification period is two years.

Now, in Russia do not let athletes to competitions abroad without mandatory checks on the level of Meldonium. Yesterday I met with Yulia Berezikova, which goes to the championship in Thai boxing. She said that all the Russian national team on a mandatory basis before the trip passed tests for checking Meldonium level.

It is very strang, that they did not check the level of Meldonium before signing the contract in the Povetkin’s team. It was known in advance that a drug test will be the most severe, that the withdrawal time Meldonium from the body is not defined, and they knew that in September, Alexander took Mildronate 500. Under the rules of the use of Meldonium prohibited from 1 January.

- What, in your opinion, the likelihood that the fight Povetkin - Wilder will be canceled?

- Now the fight is open to question, and it’s up to the WBC to decide. The evening of boxing will take place, in the worst case scenario will be canceled fight Povetkin - Wilder. I know a lot of details of training Alexander Povetkin and is confident that he personally had nothing to blame. Alexander is an honest and principled man. It is unlikely that this situation will end well, and most likely the fight will be canceled.

- As part of the same evening of boxing will make its debut on the May 21 pro-ring your ward Sofya Ochigava. Whether she took Meldonium 500 before it was banned?

- When I heard about the positive sample of Alexander Povetkin for Mildronate, I immediately called Sofya Ochigava. During the ban of Meldonium it was in the national team of Russia. Sophia said she had been warned in October that from January 1, 2016 Meldonium would be banned. Prior to that team doctors Mildronate 500mg and Mildronate injections were recommended for use, since at that time Meldonium was not considered as doping.