Maria Sharapova will face an anti-doping panel in London on Wednesday knowing she will not benefit from recent confusion surrounding the drug she tested positive for in January. Ray Lewis Youth Jersey . The 29-year-old Russian stunned the tennis world in March when she announced she had failed a test for meldonium on January 26, the day she lost an Australian Open quarter-final to Serena Williams.The Latvian-made heart disease medication had only been added to the World Anti-Doping Agencys banned list on January 1 but had been on a watch list for over a year and all national anti-doping agencies were told in October that it would be banned. With use of meldonium widespread across Eastern Europe, Sharapovas case was the most high-profile in an avalanche of positives in the first four months of the year. As of early May, WADA said there had been 288 positive samples. Sharapova must face an anti-doping panel in London But in April, the agency was forced to make an embarrassingly climbdown when it admitted there was a lack of scientific certainty on how long it takes for the drug to be completely excreted.Early suggestions that it should be out of an athletes system within days gave way to fears it could be present in long-term users, in trace amounts, for weeks, if not months.This led WADA to issue new guidance, directing that samples collected before March 1 below a certain concentration of meldonium could be discarded, as the athlete might be able to prove they had stopped taking it in 2015.Last month, Belarusian doubles specialist Sergey Betov, who also tested positive at the Australian Open, was cleared by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) on these grounds. Maria reveals failed drug test Maria Sharapova has announced she failed a drugs test during the Australian Open in January. This prompted speculation that five-time grand slam winner Sharapova could escape without punishment but both she and her lawyer John Haggerty had already admitted she had been taking it, on her doctors advice, throughout January.This was underlined by Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko last month, when he told the Russian news agency TASS that the concentration of meldonium in Sharapovas system was above the provisional limit.Sharapova, instead, must try to convince an ITF panel that the laundry list of health reasons that Haggerty referred to in March should qualify her for a backdated therapeutic use exemption (TUE). Sharapova poses with her trophy after winning Wimbledon in 2004 Whether this will be enough to see the worlds highest-earning female athlete avoid any ban at all is highly debatable, as all athletes sign up to the principle of strict liability and TUEs should be arranged, and independently verified, in advance.The maximum punishment available is four years but most anti-doping experts think a more likely ban is between six to 12 months, which would start from the date of her provisional suspension on March 12.That would mean even a ban at the lenient end of that range would see Sharapova miss the remaining grand slams this season, including Wimbledon, as well as the Rio Olympics. Also See: Modern French Open classics Watson out early in France Bencic, Wozniacki miss French Open Tennis on Sky Jaylon Ferguson Womens Jersey . Bookies were offering odds of 13/1 before kickoff that the home team Houston Dynamo would prevail by three goals to nil. Marquise Brown Ravens Jersey . The 29-year-old German, the 2011 overall World Cup champion, says she has decided "to end my career now. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Jonathan-Ogden-Jersey/ . -- Having already fallen behind because of the NFL lockout, Blaine Gabbert couldnt afford a lengthy holdout.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Bob Welch, the 1990 AL Cy Young Award winner with the Oakland Athletics and the last major leaguer to win at least 25 games in a season, has died. He was 57. Welch died late Monday night at his Southern California home in Seal Beach, the team said Tuesday. Police said officers responded to a call for medical aid and found Welch dead in the bathroom area. Authorities have not released the cause of death. The coroner was awaiting toxicology test results, which can take eight to 12 weeks, said Lt. Jeffrey Hallock, spokesman for the Orange County Sheriffs Department. Welch was known best for his famous battles with Reggie Jackson in the World Series and alcohol addiction. The two-time All-Star was an admitted alcoholic early in his career and spent time in rehabilitation. He later co-authored a book with George Vecsey about his addiction titled "Five OClock Comes Early: A Ballplayers Battle With Alcoholism." "The fact is, Im crazy when Im drunk," Welch said in the book. "Theres every chance I would have been dead by now if I was drinking." The right-hander played on five teams that reached the World Series -- 1978, 1981, 1988, 1989 and 1990 -- and won two titles, one in 1981 with the Los Angeles Dodgers and another in 1989 with the As. Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten called Welch "one of the greatest competitors to wear the Dodger uniform." "Welchie was a special guy. We lost a really good friend," said Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, a longtime teammate with the Dodgers. In Oakland, Welch figured prominently on teams that won three straight AL championships from 1988-90, including the club that swept the San Francisco Giants in the earthquake-interrupted World Series. "This is a sad day for the entire As organization," general manager Billy Beane said. "Those of us who knew Bob as a teammate and a friend will miss him greatly." Welch finished 211-146 with a 3.47 ERA in 17 seasons with the Dodgers (1978-87) and Athletics (1988-94). He also was the pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks when they won the 2001 World Series and had served as a special instructor for the As in recent years. "He had a great arm, but what made him so special at a young age was the way he could command the corners with his velocity," Scioscia said. "He was a great talent, but that wasnt really what he was about. Bobby was a guy who, every time there was a roadblock in the way, he got over it. He didnt take the easiest path, but he was a solid guy." New York Mets general manager Sandy Alderson, the former Oakland GM who acquired Welch for the As after the 1987 season, said Welch would be missed. Ben Powers Ravens Jersey. "He was an interesting character, really sort of hyperkinetic," Alderson said. "He was a super guy and a very likable, if not loveable, guy." Welch was drafted in the first round by the Dodgers in 1977 out of Eastern Michigan. His most memorable moment for Los Angeles was against the Yankees in the 1978 World Series, when the rookie struck out Jackson with two runners on base to end Game 2. "I was stone sober, too," Welch said in his book. "I hadnt gotten around to drinking before a game, particularly a World Series game -- although, given time, I would have." Dodgers first base coach Davey Lopes, a former teammate, recalled the battle with Jackson fondly before the team played in Cincinnati on Tuesday night. "I dont know if it gets any greater than that," Lopes said. Welch won the AL Cy Young Award after going 27-6 with a 2.95 ERA in 1990 for Oakland. His 27 wins tied him with Steve Carlton in 1972 for the most in a season since Denny McClains 31 victories in 1968. "He will always be a significant part of our franchises history," As President Michael Crowley said. Several current As players also offered condolences on Twitter. "Devastated to learn of Bob Welchs passing," left-hander Sean Doolittle wrote. "The As organization lost not only one of its best pitchers, but one of its best people." No one answered the door at Welchs home Tuesday, which had been sealed with a sticker from the Orange County coroner. Neighbour Alma Purcha said she woke up to find police cars outside the home several blocks from the Pacific Ocean. She said Welch divided his time between Arizona and Seal Beach. She last saw him with his son and daughter Friday, when they exchanged pleasantries. Welch was born in Detroit and was lauded by the school he led to two trips to the College World Series. Eastern Michigan athletic director Heather Lyke called the pitcher one of the universitys "greatest ambassadors." "The one thing Bobby definitely loved is this game of baseball," Scioscia said. "He understood pitching, and I know he did a great job for the Diamondbacks, and working for the Oakland organization was a natural for him because he had so many tremendous seasons there. I know he really connected with the kids and had a lot to give." The As said Welch is survived by sons Dylan, 25, and Riley, 23; daughter Kelly, 18; and former wife Mary Ellen. ' ' '