Maria Sharapova's failed drugs test was "reckless beyond description", according to former World Anti-Doping Agency president Dick Pound.

Sharapova, 28, revealed on Monday that she tested positive for the banned substance meldonium in January.

A number of sponsors have already distanced themselves from the Russian.

Pound cannot understand how Sharapova found herself in this situation, given the high stakes involved, both professionally and financially.

"Running a $30m business depends on you staying eligible to play tennis," he told BBC Sport.

Sharapova has been the highest-earning female athlete in the world in each of the past 11 years, according to the Forbes list.

However, sportswear giant Nike has suspended its relationship with the five-time Grand Slam winner, while watch manufacturer Tag Heuer has cut its ties.

German carmaker Porsche said it was "postponing planned activities" with Sharapova until the situation became clearer

Sharapova says she has taken meldonium since 2006 for health reasons.

However, it became a banned substance on 1 January after Wada deemed it had performance-enhancing properties.

Pound, who was head of Wada from 1999 to 2007, said Sharapova had made a "big mistake" and "should have known" the consequences of using it.

"Anytime there is a change to the list, notice is given on 30 September prior to the change," he said.

"You have October, November, December to get off what you are doing.

"All the tennis players were given notification of it and she has a medical team somewhere. That is reckless beyond description."



How to make sure you won't fail a drugs test
Meldonium could have a positive effect on stamina and endurance because it has the ability to increase oxygen movement to muscles.

Pound said it was eventually added to the banned list because a lot of people began taking it for performance-enhancing reasons.

He added that most of the drugs of choice for dopers were "built for therapeutic reasons", like EPO, but that they all had side-effects that could be put to use by those seeking to gain an advantage over their rivals.

Grindeks, the Latvian company that manufactures meldonium, said a typical course of treatment should only run to a few weeks.

"Depending on the patient's health condition, treatment course of meldonium preparations may vary from four to six weeks," its statement read.

"Treatment can be repeated twice or thrice a year. Only physicians can follow and evaluate patient's health condition and state whether the patient should use meldonium for a longer period of time."

In response, Sharapova's lawyer, John Haggerty, said she had not been taking the drug every day for 10 years.

"That's simply not the case," he said, adding that she took meldonium "in accordance with the recommendations of her doctor".

The International Tennis Federation said Sharapova will be provisionally suspended from 12 March.

She faces up to a four-year ban, but Pound, 73, says suspensions can be reduced if "there is absolutely zero fault on the part of the athlete".

He said it was the ITF's responsibility to "propose" any ban and warned that Wada could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for an increase if it did not think the punishment was sufficient.


Maria Sharapova won the US Open in 2006, one of five Grand Slam titles
Sharapova's announcement, made at a hotel in Los Angeles on Monday, has polarised opinions.

World number one Serena Williams, who had beaten Sharapova at the Australian Open on 26 January before she tested positive, said the Russian has shown "a lot of courage" for accepting responsibility.

However, British sprinter Jeanette Kwakye, who was a 100m finalist at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, criticised Sharapova and felt her high public profile might mean she escapes with a light sentence.

"What we have in Maria Sharapova is a media darling," said Kwakye.

"She knows how to work the world of media, she knows how to spin and put things in her favour by breaking her own news.

For somebody like her, it may be a lenient slap on the wrist."

I stand to doubt this news cause i cant fine thé mad man pic on thé post

Whats wrong with her looks?

I understand all u have said but base on my understanding and expérience no virgin ever has feelings to have sex but u reacting base on thé treading or what thé people around u are doing then u want to follow them

A club official from Barca was forced to race back to the Uruguayan's home but the striker was able to make Monday's flight without delay

EXTRA TIME
It’s the nightmare everyone potentially faces at an airport but for Luis Suarez, forgetting your passport is not the end of the world.

The Spanish champions made their way to Barcelona airport on Monday morning ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening.



But instead of leaving Suarez to browse the duty-free bargains, Barcelona sent a club official racing back to the Uruguayan’s home to fetch his passport.

Unfortunately for Arsenal, Suarez, who has already scored 41 goals in 37 games this season, was able to make the flight with his team-mates and took part in training on Monday night.
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Elsewhere in the draw, Manchester United will travel to League One side Shrewsbury Town, while holders Arsenal have been handed a home tie against Steve Bruce's Hull City

Chelsea have been drawn against Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup, while Shrewsbury Town will face Manchester United.

Holders Arsenal, meanwhile, will take on Hull City in a repeat of the 2014 final, the Gunners triumphing at Wembley on that day 3-2 courtesy of goals from Santi Cazorla, Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey.

It is in fact the third season in a row that Arsene Wenger's side will meet the Tigers, with the north Londoners having knocked out Hull at the third-round stage last season as Per Mertesacker and Alexis Sanchez scored in a 2-0 home win.

Elsewhere in the draw, Liverpool or West Ham, who replay on February 9 following Saturday's 0-0 draw, will travel to Championship side Blackburn Rovers, while Tottenham host Crystal Palace in an all-Premier League affair.

Everton, who defeated Carlisle United 3-0 in Sunday's fourth-round tie, will take on Eddie Howe's Bournemouth and Watford will host 14th-placed Championship outfit Leeds United, who reached the fifth round after a 2-1 victory over Bolton.

Check out the draws below.

FIFTH ROUND DRAW IN FULL

Chelsea vs Manchester City
Reading vs West Brom/Peterborough
Watford vs Leeds
Shrewsbury Town vs Manchester United
Blackburn Rovers vs Liverpool/West Ham
Tottenham vs Crystal Palace
Arsenal vs Hull City
Bournemouth vs Everton


All eight fifth-round ties will be played between Friday February 19 and Monday February 22. Before that, though, fans can look forward to West Ham's fourth-round replay with Liverpool on Tuesday February 9, a fixture that has seen the Hammers' Premier League clash with Southampton rearranged given that it was originally due to be played the day before the FA Cup tie. Any team who plays in the fifth round will receive £180,000 in prize money.

@ 21yrs u still think you are too young to make wise decisions. Don't ask people for opinions.thinks wisely

The woman should go deal with his husband and leave the little girl..imagine she did her home properly the husband wouldn't look outside.

How did u know she is a student and she doing it to pass exam

Them all are age grade.

It's her problem and her life perhaps she a sex worker

Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has announced his retirement from football at the age of 34.

Vidic, who spent four of his eight years at Old Trafford as club captain, won the 2008 Champions League and five Premier League titles with United as well as three League Cups.

The former Serbia international began his career in his homeland with Red Star Belgrade and also played for Spartak Moscow before moving to United midway through the 2005-06 season. He had been playing for Inter Milan since 2014 but cancelled his contract by mutual consent earlier this month. 

Hernia and back injuries meant the former Serbia international failed to feature for Inter this season, but he started 14 games under Roberto Mancini in the 2014-15 campaign.

A statement released to Manchester United's official website read: "The time has come for me to hang up my boots.

"The injuries I have had in the last few years have taken their toll.

"I would like to thank all the players I have played with, all the managers and staff I have worked with, and say a big 'thank you' to the fans for their support over the years."

Report has confirm that CHAN 2016 revolution and abia warrior forward. Chisom chikatara is set to move aways from NPFL after one season limelight heading to the moroccan pro league to join wydad casablanca

The 21 year old was instrument with the super eagle scoring four goal in 3 appearance though his effort couldn't take super eagle pass group stage..He came from the substitute bench against Niger to score a hat-trick and one against tunisia

In this regard to the transfer super coach Sunday has conderm,believing Chisom chikatara deserve a better league than the moroccan pro league to expite his skill and potentials.

The question..isn't it to early for chisom chikatara to leave NPFL .?

If truelly you love and enjoying sex just as you claim or its your hobby perhaps as you get paid,absolutely you would do it free of change

From mine own undertanding and research this isn't lagos neither nigeria

Ashley Young is willing to play right back for the England team if it means forcing his way back into Roy Hodgson's plans for Euro 2016.

Young, who is one of Louis van Gaal's favoured first-team players, has been playing out of position on the right for United of late and is willing to compete with Nathaniel Clyne and Kyle Walker if he can get another shot at an England shirt.


Ashley Young is willing to play right back in order to feature for the England team at Euro 2016  

Patrick Bamford is stalling over a move to Championship strugglers QPR because he is waiting for a Premier League team to take him on loan for the rest of the season.

The striker failed to make an impact on loan at Crystal Palace this season but is determined to prove himself in the top flight.

The 22-year-old scored a couple of goals for Chelsea's reserve team in a behind-closed-doors game against QPR this week.


Patrick Bamford (left) failed to make his mark during his loan spell at Crystal Palace earlier this season

Liverpool want it both ways after demanding £3m for their talented young forward Jerome Sinclair. The striker has turned down a contract worth £5,000 a week at Anfield, but Liverpool are still demanding crazy money for a player who has made just a handful of first-team appearances.



Manchester United hope to land Feyenoord starlet Tahith Chong but look set to lose out to Chelsea in race for Ajax youngster Juan Familia Castillo

Anthony Martial caught doing 22mph to make him Premier League's joint fastest player with Leicester's Jamie Vardy

Manchester United icons Gary Neville and Patrice Evra inspire Matteo Darmian: 'They have both created history in world football'
Manchester United hand trial to 16-year-old Livingston forward Matthew Knox... as Joleon Lescott attracts interest from China

Stoke are the most efficient at big-five league level ahead of Villarreal
Potters have collected 0.78 more points than they ostensibly should have
Chelsea should have won an estimated 1.47 points per match this term
But in reality the Blues have garnered just 1.14 in a wasteful campaign
Steve McClaren's Newcastle United have been similarly profligate
Stoke City have thrived this season with Mark Hughes having successfully implemented his high-intensity passing philosophy in his third term in charge of the club.

And according to new research from the CIES Football Observatory, the Potters are officially the most efficient out of all of the 98 teams in Europe's 'big five' leagues in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and France.

With Jack Butland between the posts, a strong defensive core and Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic, Ibrahim Afellay and Marko Arnautovic pulling the strings in attack, Stoke now sit in an impressive seventh position in the Premier League table.

+8
Stoke City are officially the most efficient out of all of the 98 teams in Europe's 'big five' leagues
+8
Chelsea should have collected an estimated 1.47 points per match but in reality have taken just 1.14
TOP 10 MOST EFFICIENT TEAMS 

1. Stoke City +0.78

2. Villarreal +0.76

3. Paris Saint-Germain +0.58

- Hertha Berlin +0.58

5. Manchester United +0.54

6. Atletico Madrid +0.48

7. Inter Milan +0.47

8. Cologne +0.42

9. Bologna +0.32

10. Barcelona +0.31

- Schalke +0.31

TOP 10 LEAST EFFICIENT TEAMS 

1. Troyes -0.72

2. Swansea City -0.61

3. Rayo Vallecano -0.47

4. Real Sociedad -0.46

5. Newcastle United -0.43

- Levante -0.43

7. Montpellier -0.42

8. Stuttgart -0.38

- Hellas Verona -0.38

10. Frosinone -0.33

- Chelsea -0.33

- Reims -0.33

The research's findings are based on an algorithm which works out sides' dominance in matches, relating to the points they pick up, with Hughes' men winning 0.78 more points per game than should be the norm for their superiority.

The indicator of efficiency refers to the ability of teams to achieve the highest number of points with respect to their levels of grip on the game and dangerousness. 

The indicator of the grip on the game refers to the number and location of passes achieved compared to opponents, while that of dangerousness is the ratio between the number and quality of shots attempted and conceded.

Liverpool make £24.6m bid for Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira

• Ian Ayre flies to Shakhtar training camp in Florida to try to seal deal

• Ukrainian side want more than £30m for the 26-year-old Brazilian

Alex Teixeira joined Shakhtar Donetsk in 2010

Liverpool have made an offer of €32m (£24.6m) for the Shakhtar Donetsk forward Alex Teixeira with the chief executive, Ian Ayre, flying to Florida to try to clinch a deal with the Ukrainian club.

Shakhtar, who are in Orlando preparing for the Florida Cup, want more than £30m for the 26-year-old but Liverpool are confident that they can agree a deal to add firepower to a forward line that has been ravaged by injuries this season.

Teixeira, who has been linked with a move to Chelsea, has scored 67 goals in 146 league games for the Ukrainian team in five years at the club. Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool have scored only 25 goals in 22 league games this season and currently have Danny Ings, Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi, as well as Philippe Coutinho, injured.

Stade Huye produced four goals on Sunday with the Leopards tearing apart the Walias Antelopes, while the Palancras Negras made a false start in the championship

DR Congo cruised to a 3-0 win over Ethiopia in Group B’s opening fixture at the African Nations Championship.

Goals from Guy Lusadisu, Heritier Luvumbu and Elias Meshak gave Florent Ibengé’s men a commanding start in their bid to win their second title.

Lusadisu put his team ahead in the 44th minute after heading in Nelson Munganga’s cross that beat goalkeeper Abel Mamo.

In the second half, Luvambu doubled his team’s lead after connecting to a fine cross from Lusadisu before Meschack sealed the win with his 58th minute effort.

Elsewhere, Atouba Emane’s 24th minute strike handed 10-man Cameroon a slim win over Angola at the Stade Huye, Butare.

The Angolans, however could not profit from their opponent’s numeric disadvantage after Indomitable Lion’s Joseph Ngwem was given the marching order for a second caution after forcing down Anato Antonio.

DR Congo top Group B with three points while Cameroon are placed second with the same number of points but with an inferior goals difference.
 

RESULTS

Angola 0-1 Cameroon
DR Congo 3-0 Ethiopia

report has revealed how much each Super Eagles player will receive for match wins, losses and draws at the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN 2016) in Rwanda.

 The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced a cash bonus that will see the players get the sum of $2000 for a win and $1000 for a draw.

The technical crew will earn $4,000 for a win, and $2,000 for a draw..in the past we have heard them (NFF) make huge pronouncement but ended not fulfilling it. hopefully this time change has come to stay


The Super Eagles are lodged at the four-star Hill View Hotel in Kigali during the group stages of the competition, the Sun reports.

The hotel is located in the Kiyovu district, inside the Kigali City Center and will house the Eagles for 11 days before they leave Kigali for Gisenyi where they will play their final group game against Guinea on January 26.

Nigeria has been drawn in the Group C alongside Tunisia, Niger and Guinea and will play their opening game on January 18 against Niger.

The home based Eagles emerged 3rd at the 2014 edition where they defeated Zimbabwe 1 – 0 in the third place match after losing on penalties to Ghana in the Semi finals

The last thing Louis van Gaal needs is a Sunday afternoon at Anfield. The Manchester United manager's position is precarious. The Dutchman might not survive a loss to Liverpool. Losing is one thing. Defeat to United's hated rivals is quite another.

Forget the Clasico. This is one of the greatest grudge matches in world football. It is a fixture as intense as any of the game's big rivalries. Anfield is always at its most ferocious when United come to town -- and Old Trafford provides reciprocal animosity when Liverpool visit.

It is not about results or league positions. The enmity between the teams and the cities is more deep-seated than that. Its roots are cultural and historical and all the more satisfying for it.

United's badge is an affront to Merseyside. It features a three-masted sailing ship -- as Manchester City's does, too. Manchester is landlocked and 35 miles away from the coast. This inland mill town built a ship canal to circumvent the port of Liverpool. The ghost of economic conflict in the 19th century surfaces every time these teams play.

The both teams are far aways from each other in the table but not only that also out of top four in the table..

Which of the team do you believe need the classico more

Girl, 7, has rare disorder that means she’s never hungry, never tired and never feels pain

Olivia Farnsworth, from Huddersfield, suffers from a rare chromosome disorder which means she does not feel pain..

Doctors call her ‘bionic’ and her mum says she’s ‘made of steel’.

Olivia Farnsworth, from Huddersfield, may look like a regular child but has some seriously unique qualities.

She never gets tired, can go days without food and doesn’t feel pain.

No seriously. 

Olivia, seven, has a rare chromosome disorder that has left doctors and her family in awe.

She is thought to be the only person in the world who suffers from all three symptoms simultaneously.

Her mum, Niki, 32, said her condition is so rare, it didn’t even have a name.

She said: ‘She got run over and dragged down the street by a car and she didn’t complain.

‘She was dragged about ten car lengths down the road. It was horrendous, I don’t think it’s something I will ever get over.

‘I was screaming and all my other children were screaming as she ran out. But Olivia was just like, “What’s going on?”.

‘She just got up and started walking back to me.’

Niki said she first started seeing signs of her daughter’s condition when she was only a few months old.


Olivia Farnsworth’s symptoms started showing when she was only a few months old..

Niki described some of the negative aspects of her daughter’s condition: ‘She had bad colic and her hair didn’t grow. She had no hair until she was about four-and-a-half. People called her a boy all the time.

‘She also once fell badly and ripped her lip off and didn’t say anything. She had to have major plastic surgery to correct it.’

Another struggle the mum-of-five faces with Olivia is that she is prone to violent outbursts.

‘She’s head-butted me, punched and kicked me and can have outbursts of swearing which can be embarrassing if we’re out in public.

‘It happened in a park the other week and people were wondering what’s going on. They don’t know what’s wrong.’

Niki is now trying to raise money for research into the rare disorder through a skydive and hosting a charity tattoo-athon.

Franky it seems strange but it fact that we have to live to believe..

The Hornets striker and his coach were rewarded for their respective efforts in December with the Premier League's player and manager of the month prizes

Watford's fairytale Premier League season continued on Friday as Quique Flores and Odion Ighalo were named the division's manager and player of the month for December.

The Hornets won three, drew one and lost one of the five league games they played in the final month of 2015, as they finished the year in ninth place.

Wins over Norwich and Sunderland preceded a 3-0 win over Liverpool and a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, though their bright run came to an end as they lost 2-1 to Tottenham after going down to 10-men.

Such impressive results were enough to see Flores acknowledged as the best performing coach in the league last month.
Ighalo, meanwhile, beat Mesut Ozil, Marko Arnautovic, Riyad Mahrez, Romelu Lukaku and Dele Alli to the player award, having scored five times in December. 

Watford's top scorer netted a crucial goal against Norwich before firing home the winner against Sunderland.

The Nigerian then added a double against Jurgen Klopp's men and equalised against Spurs before Son Heung-min's late winner saw his side suffer a defeat.
 
It can only be God.. to all Nigerians does him (Ighalo) deserve it?