(Tennis news) Former World Number 1 and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has been charged with her second doping offence after being provisionally suspended since October after testing positive for blood boosting drug Roxadustat. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has now charged the Romanian with a “further and separate breach of the tennis anti-doping programme” after an independent assessment of her athlete biological passport.
Senior director for anti-doping at the ITIA Nicole Sapstead said in a statement “We understand this announcement adds complexity to an already high-profile situation. From the outset of this process – and indeed any other at the ITIA – we have remained committed to engaging with Ms Halep in an empathetic, efficient, and timely manner. We do, of course, appreciate there is a great deal of media interest in these cases. It would be inappropriate for us to comment on specifics until the conclusion of the process, but we will continue to engage with the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal and Ms Halep’s representatives as expeditiously as possible.”
In April, Halep said “I’ve been provisionally suspended for eight months even though I sent all the evidence regarding my contamination to the ITF last December. I don’t ask for any special treatment, but to be able to get judged by the tribunal. I feel it is unfair. How long is it going to last? I will fight till the end to prove that I never knowingly took any prohibited substance and I have faith that, sooner or later, the truth will come out.”
After the findings on Friday, Simona Halep released the following statement on social media “Since October 7, when I got charged by the ITIA, for a suspicion of doping, I have lived the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life. Not only has my name been soiled in the worst possible way, but I am facing a constant determination from the ITIA for a reason that I cannot understand, to prove my guilt while I haven’t ever even thought of taking an illicit substance.
“I tried two times to have the opportunity to be judged by an independent tribunal, and the ITIA has constantly found reasons to postpone. Now that we have clearly established that I have been a victim of contamination, they came up with a so-called not normal evolution of my blood. Three world renowned experts that have studied my blood test have been extremely clear that my blood is totally normal.
“I feel helpless facing such harassment and motivation on their behalf to proven guilty of something I never did. Once again, all my life I have been totally against any sort of cheating. It doesn’t align with my values. The only thing I hope for, at this point, is to have the possibility to finally access the independent and impartial judges in a tribunal, that will give me the chance to prove my innocence.
“I have full trust in justice and I look forward to finally being able to present my case at my hearing that is scheduled at the end of May, after several delays by the ITIA. The support of my loved ones, the tennis world, and my fans have given me the courage to continue to practice every day and fight for the truth. I cannot thank you more for that. Love, Simona.”
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