Where exactly is Simona Halep, nearly eight months after being suspended for an anti-doping rule violation? That’s the question the tennis world is asking about the 31-year-old former world number one. “They are not only killing my reputation, but also my career,” said the Romanian player on Wednesday, accusing the authorities responsible for combating doping of harming her by delaying the examination of her file. Notably victorious at Roland-Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, the Romanian has been provisionally suspended since October 7, after being tested positive for roxadustat during the US Open (in August 2022).
This banned molecule stimulates the production of red blood cells and is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Halep faces up to four years of suspension in this first case. But she assures that experts have demonstrated that this prohibited substance was found in her body following contamination of a food supplement and she claims to be heard to prove her innocence.
Halep denounces a form of “harassment”
She had mentioned at the end of April a possible hearing on May 28. She posted a message on her social networks on Wednesday to explain her situation: “The ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) has again, and for the third time, deferred my hearing for a month. I have been waiting to be judged since last October. I requested, as required by the anti-doping rules, an expeditious hearing. It is my right, it is written in the rules”. Still 34th in the WTA world rankings, Simona Halep can’t stand being so deadlocked, when she couldn’t play the Australian Open and will miss the French Open at Roland -Garros, which starts on Sunday, then Wimbledon (from July 3 to 16).
“The disregard for the rules on the part of the ITIA, in terms of the rapid hearing that I am entitled to obtain, is such a mark of contempt for me that I have no more words”, concludes the Romanian . No comment could be immediately obtained from the ITIA, which announced last Friday that Simona Halep was the subject of a new case in connection with “irregularities” in the data of her biological passport. This is a separate violation from the case that prompted his provisional suspension. Simona Halep then denounced a form of “harassment” against her.