MOSCOW -- Maria Sharapovas ban for taking the banned substance meldonium has been reduced from two years to 15 months.Although the drug led to a spate of positive tests from dozens of athletes, mostly in Eastern Europe, when it was banned for 2016, Sharapova is the only athlete serving a ban.Here are some of the key issues surrounding meldonium:---Q: What is meldonium?A: A Latvian-made drug available over the counter in Russia and other Eastern European and ex-Soviet countries, often without a prescription. The drugs manufacturer, Grindeks, says it is mostly aimed at people with heart conditions, though it can also be used for physical and psycho-emotional overload in otherwise healthy people. Meldoniums inventor, chemist Ivars Kalvins, has said it was given to Soviet soldiers fighting in Afghanistan to boost their stamina. However, Grindeks and Kalvins argue it shouldnt be banned in sports, with the manufacturer saying that it cannot improve athletic performance, but it can stop tissue damage during intense exercise. Sharapova said she took meldonium for a decade for reasons including a magnesium deficiency, family history of diabetes and dizziness. Meldonium is usually known by the brand name mildronate, though other names have been used.---Q: How was it banned?A: The World Anti-Doping Agency said in September 2015 that meldonium would be banned as of Jan. 1, 2016, and published information on its website. A study conducted at the European Games in June 2015 and later published by the British Journal of Sports Medicine found 66 of 762 athletes taking meldonium, which the authors called excessive and inappropriate use ... in a generally heathy athlete population. After WADAs announcement, the International Tennis Federation notified players of changes to the list of banned substances by e-mail and using a wallet card distributed at tournaments, though CAS ruled Tuesday that this was inadequate. Sharapova tested positive at the Australian Open in January and said she was not aware meldonium had been banned.---Q: Who else tested positive?A: After meldonium was banned, there were more than 170 failed tests by athletes, almost all from Eastern European countries, including Olympic medalists in sports ranging from figure skating to wrestling. Heavyweight boxer Alexander Povetkin of Russia saw his world title challenge called off after a failed test for meldonium.---Q: What happened to athletes who tested positive?A: Almost all of the cases were dropped when athletes insisted they had stopped taking meldonium in 2015, before it was banned. The usually low concentrations of the drug in their samples backed up that argument, and WADA accepted findings of no fault or negligence in those cases. WADA also admitted it hadnt known enough about how long it took meldonium to leave an athletes system. Sharapovas case was not dropped because she had continued taking meldonium after it was banned and the concentration in her sample was comparatively high.---Q: What next?A: WADA confirmed last week that meldonium remains on the banned list for 2017. WADAs grace period for athletes who tested positive for low doses expired Friday, so any amount of the drug now triggers a positive test. Air Max 270 For Sale Cheap .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Air Max 270 Sale Ireland . Oyama had six birdies and two bogeys at Kintetsu Kashikojima in the event also sanctioned by the Japan LPGA Tour. 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Center in Louisville, Ky.Pitino typically invites a coaching friend or former colleague back to town as a celebration of the spirit of Minardi, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. McHale, now in his second season as Eastern Kentuckys head coach, knows the Minardi family well.McHale also knows Saturday matchup against No. 11 Louisville (9-1) will be an extremely difficult test for the Colonels (6-5).We went back and forth with text messages this week, McHale said of his conversation with Pitino. I told him I hope we give them a good show. And I also asked him as he was preparing for us, to let me know what he thinks about my teams strengths and weaknesses and what we have to work on before OVC (Ohio Valley Conference) play. Ill never stop learning from him. Hes the best.McHale said he learned a lot about how to run his program from Pitino.Its surreal to think about going back as a coach. Hes the sole reason I came to the University of Kentucky -- to learn from him, McHale said. Then going to Louisville to work for him from Day 1 was like being an intern on the ground floor of a Fortune 500 company. Just soaking everything up. Hes had his hand on my career every step of the way, from Seton Hall with Kevin Willard, to Minnesota with his son, Richard, and now here.I have a lot of friends who are going to be there. And to be coaching back in Louisville where I started my coaching career is certainly special. Im just glad its a noon tip so I dont have to wait around all day for it.Pitino hasnt taken it easy on his former assistants, owning a 40-10 overall record. Only Tubby Smith and Mick Cronin (each 5-7 vs. Pitino) have beaten their former boss. Pitino has a spotless record against Billy Donovan, Scott Davenport, Marvin Menzies, Kevin Willard, Steve Masiello, Richard Pitino, Kareem Richardson, Kevin Keatts, Ralph Willard and Reggie Theus.If McHale is going to join Smith and Cronin, hell need a big game from All-OVC forward Nick Mayo.Hes likely going to win conference player of the year several times in a row, Pitino said of Mayo.dddddddddddd Hes a guy who could start at most places in the ACC.Mayo comes into Saturdays game averaging 19.3 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-9, 235-pound sophomore could be a tough test for Louisvilles 6-9, 230-pound junior power forward Jaylen Johnson. Johnson started the season with several double-doubles, but since cooled off and is averaging 9.4 points and 8.2 rebounds.Eastern Kentuckys backcourt of senior Isaac McGlone (10.1 ppg) and freshman Asante Gist (14.4 ppg) will be tested by Louisvilles pressure defense. The Cardinals are among the national leaders in turnovers forced and are the top defense in the nation according to Ken Pomeroys computer rankings.Coming off the floor Saturday with a smile on our faces is the plan and it would definitely be very sweet, Colonels grad assistant and former Louisville student manager Bobby DiRaimo added. It will be tough to do. They are really good and I know they will be ready to play. But the guys are excited and its going to be fun.Louisvilles has forced 160 turnovers in 10 games and foes are shooting just 36.0 percent against the Cardinals including 28.3 percent from 3-point range. Interestingly enough, Eastern Kentuckys top 3-point threat is Dillon Avare, a former Louisville walk-on who transferred last summer.Coach P was really happy for me. ... I didnt get to play a lot at Louisville, so to be able to play more and be able to impact the team in a different way and being on the court with the guys has been fun, Avare said. It would be awesome to be able to shoot against the Cardinals like I did at Ball State. If someone scores on a player at Louisville two times in a row, coach P goes off. So it would be pretty cool to be on the other side of that exchange.As for Louisville, the Cardinals are led by sophomore guard Donovan Mitchells 11.4 points per game following by junior guard Quentin Sniders 10.8. Sophomore wing Deng Adel is averaging 10.0 points and 4.8 rebounds.The Cardinals have won 52 of their last 53 non-conference home games at the KFC Yum! Center spanning the last seven seasons. Louisville also has won its last 16 straight home games against non-conference opponents. ' ' '