Two-time Grand Slam champion served four-year tennis ban
Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has been suspended for violating the tennis Anti-Doping Program. An unbiased tribunal got here to the choice she had deliberately damaged the principles of this system.
On Tuesday the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed the Romanian has been banned for not only one however two separate anti-doping rule violations. The 31-year-old had already been provisionally suspended after testing optimistic for banned blood-booster roxadustat after the 2022 US Open. The drug will increase the manufacturing of crimson blood cells and helps increase ranges of endurance.
Halep won’t be able to return to the WTA tour till Oct. 7, 2026, when she might be 35 years of age however the former World No.1 is ready to enchantment the case. She has since launched a press release following the decision, denying she deliberately took a banned substance. “Today, a tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme announced a tentative decision in my case,” the 2019 Wimbledon champion wrote.
“The last year has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis. I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.”
In addition to testing optimistic for roxadustat in a urine pattern taken Aug. 29, 2022, on the US Open, Halep was discovered responsible of utilizing an unspecified prohibited substance or methodology in 2022 after some discrepancies in her organic passport appeared by “collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the player.”
Although the tribunal accepted Halep’s declare that that they had taken a contaminated complement, their assertion stated it “determined the volume the player ingested could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive sample.” Three unbiased consultants got here to the conclusion that “likely doping” was the explanation for the anomalies in Halep’s organic passport.
That was a bit of data the tribunal claimed that they had no motive to dispute. Throughout her assertion, Halep maintained her innocence and said she is decided to clear her title and return to taking part in the game she loves. “The ITIA relied solely on the opinions of these experts who looked only at my blood parameters – which I’ve maintained for more than 10 years in the same range,” the previous French Open winner stated.
“This group ignored the fact no prohibited substance has ever been found in my blood or urine samples with the sole exception of one August 29 positive test for roxadustat, which was present at an extremely low level and which, when considering my negative test three days prior, could only have been caused by accidental exposure to roxadustat.
“I’m eternally grateful for the outpouring of help I’ve acquired from my household, associates, and tennis followers around the globe. I’m persevering with to coach and do all the pieces in my energy to clear my title of those false allegations and return to the court docket. I intend to enchantment this choice to The Court of Arbitration for Sport and pursue all authorized cures in opposition to the complement firm in query.”
Halep made her skilled debut in 2006 and reached her first Grand Slam last on the 2014 French Open. Four years later she was in a position to win the clay court docket main by defeating Sloane Stephens within the last. Just a yr later Halep produced arguably the perfect efficiency of her profession to beat Serena Williams 6-2, 6-2 and win the Wimbledon title.
The 31-year-old former World No. 1 has not performed an expert match since shedding within the first spherical of the 2022 US Open to qualifier Daria Snigur in three units.