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. Cheap Shoes Fake . -- Charline Labonte couldnt have asked for a better homecoming. Fake Shoes Outlet . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. http://www.fakeshoesonline.com/ . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Fake Shoes Free Shipping .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Fake Yeezy .ca look back at each of the Top 10 stories of 2013. Today, we look back at Boston Strong - a citys recovery from tragedy. ST. LOUIS -- Khris Davis saw he had a chance to score, so he took off.Davis hustled home on an infield grounder in the eighth inning and the Oakland Athletics rallied for two runs, beating the St. Louis Cardinals 3-2 Saturday night.Oakland trailed 2-1 in the eighth when Davis singled with one out against Matt Bowman (2-5) and Ryon Healy doubled, extending the longest active hitting streak in the majors to 13 games.Seung Hwan Oh relieved and Max Muncy hit a grounder that Brandon Moss stopped with a dive, but Davis easily beat the throw to score the tying run.The play was to see the ball through the middle, stay on the corners, Davis said. He dove, so as soon as he dove I thought it would be a good time to go.Brett Eibner followed with a sacrifice fly.St. Louis starter Mike Leake was scratched because he was still recovering from having shingles. The Cardinals fell to 1-8 in interleague games at Busch Stadium this season.Zach Neal pitched a career-best six innings. Oakland pitchers held the Cardinals without a hit after the fourth inning, retiring the last 17 batters.I caught a second wind after that third inning, said Neal. My mechanics started flowing a little bit. The ball was coming out better than it was early on.Daniel Coulombe (2-1) and Liam Hendriks combined for two perfect innings to set up Ryan Madson, who pitched a perfect ninth for his 26th save.They were great, Oakland manager Bob Melvin said about his bullpen. Daniels now all of a sudden in a role he hasnt been in before and has to go back out and get the first out of the eighth. Hendriks came in. He was probably more rested then weve had in a while and then to get a clean ninth against that team with no base runners.Cardinals rookie Alex Reyes made hiis first major league start, giving up one run on two hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.ddddddddddddI feel like my command could have been better, Reyes said. Four walks, I wasnt able to get deep in the game, but I tried to execute pitches as best as I can. Things didnt work my way, but hopefully next time they will.Zach Duke relieved and hit pinch-hitter Danny Valencia to load the bases, then walked Davis to force home a run. Reyes had started his big league career with five relief appearances, pitching 9 1/3 scoreless innings.Randal Grichuk hit his 18th homer, a 431-foot drive in the second. The Cardinals have homered in 16 straight games, one shy of their season best.ENSHRINEMENTPrior to the game, the Cardinals inducted former players Joe Torre, Chris Carpenter and Terry Moore, as well as former club president Sam Breadon, into the teams Hall of Fame.TRAINERS ROOMAthletics: C Josh Phegley was hospitalized Friday night with synovitis in his right knee. He underwent surgery on the knee on July 5 to remove a cruciate ligament cyst and was supposed to go out on a Minor League rehab assignment on Saturday.Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny said Leake first displayed symptoms of shingles on Monday and has been healing slowly.UP NEXTAthletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (0-1, 4.38 ERA) will be making his fifth career major league start. The As will be trying to win their first road series since taking two of three from Texas Rangers from July 25-27.Cardinals: LHP Jaime Garcia (10-9, 4.37 ERA) will be making his first career start against Oakland. He is 1-1 with an 11.00 ERA in his last two starts. ' ' '