Sales of the banned substance meldonium have more than doubled in Russia following Maria Sharapova's public confession about testing positive for the drug earlier this year.

Meldonium was added to the World Anti-Doping Agency list of prohibited substances at the beginning of this year. In a press conference, Sharapova argued that she took the drug for medical purposes over the course of a decade and refuted subsequent reports which stated that she received five separate warnings about the WADA update.

It later emerged that some 99 athletes tested positive for meldonium and now it seems that the demand for the substance is notably high in Russia.

Russian pharmaceutical outlets sold 78,300 boxes of meldonium between March 7-13, which represnets a 220% increase on the sales rates from the week before.

Meldonium is taken to treat poor blood flow in the body and has been said to have performance enhancing properties as a result.

A group who monitor the pharmaceutical sector have explained how Maria Sharapova's association with the drug have caused a boost in sales.

''The doping scandal was a very good advertising boost for meldonium, enabling it to be introduced to a much broader public. People felt that if Sharapova used the medication, that meant it really helped.''