There is no scientific evidence of Meldonium effect to performance

There is no scientific evidence of the influence of meldonium to the performance of athletest, said inventor Professor Ivar Kalvins substance.

Russian tennis player Maria Sharapova said that she received notification that in her doping sample taken during the performance at the Australian Open, the traces of the banned drug Meldonium (Mildronate) were found.

Earlier, Russian figure skater Ekaterina Bobrova said, that she passed a positive doping test in her trial also found traces of Meldonium. In February, cyclist Russian team "Katyusha" Eduard Vorganov has been convicted for the application of Meldonium (Mildronate).

"Meldonium protects the heart during ischemia, which allows to train with an average load. Meldonium is not challenging the substance and, in my opinion, can not improve the performance of athletes. Therefore, it is unclear why it is included in the list of banned substances. Athletes have the same rights as other people, that is the right to use the drug for prevention of injury in the absence of scientific evidence demonstrating that the drug actually improves their performance, "- said Kalvins.

"This is equivalent to prohibit eating meat on the grounds that the meat contains carnitine, a substance that increases the rate of fatty acid oxidation and stimulates the production of energy", - he said.

Meldonium from January 1, entered in the class of prohibited substances S4 - "hormones and modulators of metabolism." It was synthesized in 1975 in Riga. In Eastern Europe, the substance of the drug sold under the name "Mildronat" which is a means of preventive treatment of a heart attack. In 2012 meldonium was included in the list of "vital and essential drugs", approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.