London - Maria Sharapova was caught at the Australian Open following the biggest anti-doping operation ever mounted in tennis.
Every player, male or female, who played singles in Melbourne was given a blood test as part of the unprecedented sweep, primarily designed to expand the sport’s biological passport programme.
With the two qualifying draws taken into account it means well over 450 blood tests were carried out, as well as random examinations during the event. Among these were dozens of urine tests, which are much cheaper and simpler than blood.
It emerges that it was a urine test which caught Sharapova, who tested positive for meldonium.
The work was carried out by Stockholm-based testing company IDTM. The International Tennis Federation did not wish to comment on the figure but a spokesman confirmed to Sportsmail the information relating to the mass testing in Australia is correct.
The likes of Roger Federer and Andy Murray, who in the past fortnight have reiterated their calls for more testing, are likely to be somewhat reassured by the widening of the biological passport scheme, first introduced by tennis in 2013.
Dick Pound, former president of the World Anti-Doping Agency, said last month that meldonium was a common currency in tennis. As of Friday the number of positive tests for the substance in 2016 across all sports was up to 140, WADA said.
It could be that other tennis players apart from Sharapova will be found to have taken a drug which is widespread in eastern Europe. The protocol followed by tennis allows for anonymity until a ruling by an independent tribunal has been made.
The Russian took the unusual step early last month of making a formal public admission after being notified.
Last year the tennis anti-doping programme carried out 2 431 urine examinations on players, not including tests undertaken by other organisations involved in the fight against doping.
While the Indian Wells and current Miami Open have been going on, Sharapova has been posting images on her social media pages.
Last weekend she posed, smiling, in front of a private jet whisking her and friends off to Mexico for a beach holiday. There have also been pictures of her practising tennis and working out in the gym.
The message she wants to convey is that she is in good spirits and has not given up on coming back to the sport.
Her agent, Max Eisenbud, refused to comment in Miami on the schedule for the hearings that will determine her future.
However, sources familiar with the process expect the tribunal will hear her case at the end of this month, with a decision likely to be announced in May.
Daily Mail