Athletes who tested positive for meldonium before March 1 could have bans overturned less than four months before the Rio Olympics after WADA said it could not establish how quickly the drug cleared the human body.

Key points: WADA says 172 positive tests for meldonium since January 1

WADA says 172 positive tests for meldonium since January 1 WADA is unsure of time substance stays in the body after use

WADA is unsure of time substance stays in the body after use Meldonium's Latvian manufacturer previously said traces could remain in body for several months

WADA's notice to national anti-doping bodies is expected to have a major impact on many of the 172 athletes who have tested positive for the performance-boosting drug since the ban took force on January 1.

They include five-times grand slam tennis champion Maria Sharapova, who was among 40 Russian athletes to test positive for the drug after it was added to WADA's list of banned substances in January.

Sharapova's lawyer John Haggerty said on Wednesday that WADA handled the issue "poorly" and was now trying to make up for it.

WADA said there was a lack of clear scientific information on excretion times.

The organisation's spokesman Ben Nichols said the aim was to give information to sports and anti-doping organisations for how they might pursue doping cases for meldonium.

"We're not talking about a big climb-down at all, we're talking about a clarification and assistance we've given to help make sure the right outcomes are reached," Nichols told ABC News Radio.

"This is an unprecedented situation with a large number of cases - it's a new banned substance," he said.

"Some of these might be cases where the athlete can prove that they took it when it wasn't banned, but many of them will be ingestion after the 1st of January."

WADA defends banning Meldonium

Nichols said it was not a "flippant decision" for WADA in adding meldonium to the list of banned substances, and he maintains it was a "thorough process".

"The expert committee decided there was enough conclusive evidence that it was enhancing performance and athletes were misusing it," he said.

Meldonium's Latvian manufacturer has said traces could remain in the body for several months depending on doses, duration of treatment and sensitivity of testing methods.

The anti-doping body's notice also gave hope to athletes who have tested positive for the drug since March 1, depending on studies being carried out to determine how long it stays in the body.

"Since meldonium was prohibited on 1 January of this year, there have been 172 positive samples for the substance, for athletes across numerous countries and sports," WADA President Craig Reedie said.

"Concurrently there has been a call by stakeholders for further clarification and guidance," he said.

"WADA recognises this need - that meldonium is a particular substance, which has created an unprecedented situation and therefore warranted additional guidance for the anti-doping community."

Sharapova lawyer critical of WADA handling of issue

Sharapova, who said she had been taking meldonium for more than a decade because of health problems but had not used it since January 1, was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in March after announcing she had failed a test at the Australian Open.

"The fact that WADA felt compelled to issue this unusual statement now is proof of how poorly they handled issues relating to meldonium in 2015," Haggerty said in a statement.

"Given the fact that scores of athletes have tested positive for taking what previously was a legal product, it's clear WADA did not handle this properly last year and they're trying to make up for it now."

Russian Tennis Federation president Shamil Tarpishchev said Sharapova's ban could be addressed in a meeting with ITF head David Haggerty this month.

"The situation with Sharapova could be resolved after April 21 when we meet with the head of the international federation. It is too early to talk about Sharapova competing at the Olympic Games," Russia's TASS news agency quoted Tarpishchev as saying.

Russian sports minister welcomes WADA's announcement

Russian sports minister Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko welcomed WADA's decision.

"The Russian Sports Ministry supports and welcomes the decision made by WADA because it has shown a willingness to understand the situation, rather than stick to the rulebook," Mutko said in a statement.

"WADA has demonstrated impartiality and being objective in the fight against doping."

Several Russian federations - including rugby, skating and cycling - are now confident their athletes who had tested positive could be free to return to competition.

Meldonium, manufactured for people suffering from heart problems, can also increase blood flow and improve exercise capacity.

ABC/Reuters