What Is Meldonium, The Drug At The Heart Of The Maria Sharapova Doping Case?

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Maria Sharapova tested positive for meldonium at the Australian Open. Kevork Djansezian / Stringer / Getty Images

The world of sport was left reeling once again this week as yet another high-profile athlete failed a drug test. However, unlike previous doping cheats such as Lance Armstrong and Justin Gatlin, Maria Sharapova apparently did not know that the substance she had taken was illegal in sport. Known as meldonium, the drug has been in the spotlight this week, but what exactly is it?