Meldonium has become a buzzword in the sports doping world, especially after Maria Sharapova got a two year ban from tennis for using it. Russia actually switched out its entire U-18 hockey team for a tournament this past spring over fears they all might test positive for the endurance booster. Now, the NHL is adding the substance to its banned list.
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise considering how the use of meldonium as a performance enhancer is increasing, particularly in Russia.
The drug, which is typically used for heart conditions, is not approved for use in the United States. It increases blood flow, which improves exercise capacity by carrying more oxygen to the muscles. There is significant debate among doping experts over whether meldonium, also known as mildronate, actually enhances performance.
There is debate as to whether the drug can actually increase athletic performance, but after a number of high profile positive tests for the drug in athletes this summer, the NHL is getting out ahead of the issue and banning it themselves.
