Drug maker: Meldonium can take months to leave body

The manufacturer of Meldonium believes that it can take “several months” to leave the body.

The manufacturer of Meldonium believes that it can take “several months” to leave the body, the drug maker from Grindeks tells Reuters.

It is believed that the “terminal elimination from the body may last for several month.” That is contrary to a previous report that it could be detectable for days.

There have been more than 100 positive tests for Meldonum, also known as Mildrate, since it was banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency on Jan. 1. Maria Sharapova is among several elite athletes that have tested positive in recent weeks. Others include Swedish distance runner and 2013 world champion Abeba Aregawi, Russian cyclist Eduard Vorganov and Ukrainian biathlete Olga Abramova.

• What is Meldonium? The drug behind Maria Sharapova’s positive test

Meldonium, sometimes known as Mildronate, is not approved by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration. WADA classifies the drug as an S4 substance, which focuses on hormone and metabolic modulators.

The drug is developed in Latvia and can be used to treat a number of heart conditions, including angina. Athletes have found that the substance can also increase the body’s oxygen uptake to aid endurance.