Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam winner, pledged to clear her name and called the outcome of her failing doping test “the biggest shock of my life.”
The world number nine has been temporarily suspended after testing positive for the blood-thinning substance Roxadustat during the US Open, according to information released on Friday by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.
According to Article 7.12.1 of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), the 31-year-old Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended, the organisation announced in a statement.
In addition to winning Wimbledon in 2019, Halep won the French Open in 2018. Since Maria Sharapova failed a drug test six years ago, she is the tennis player with the highest profile to do so.
The 31-year-old made the following announcement on her social media platforms: “My life’s toughest match—a struggle for the truth—begins today.
pic.twitter.com/bhS2B2ovzS
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 21, 2022
“The worst shock of my life came when I learned that I tested positive for Roxadustat, a drug, in an incredibly little amount.
“Since cheating completely goes against all the morals I was raised with, I never once considered it throughout my entire career.
“I feel utterly betrayed and absolutely puzzled as I deal with this terrible circumstance. I have trust that the truth will eventually come out, and I will battle to the bitter end to demonstrate that I never intentionally used any illegal substances.
“The titles or money are not important. It has to do with honour and the romantic relationship I have grown over the past 25 years with tennis.”
After undergoing nasal surgery, Halep lost shockingly to Daria Snigur in the US Open’s opening round this year, ending her season. On October 7, she received the results of her failed test.
The former world number one asked for an analysis of her B sample, which supported the results of the A sample.
The United States Anti-Doping Agency retested samples in 2016 after claiming to have received information on athletes using the anaemia medicine roxadustat, which has previously been connected to doping.
The prohibited chemical, which belongs to the same class of prohibited substances as EPO, boosts the formation of red blood cells, improving endurance.
Halep became a professional in 2006, and at the Andalucia Tennis Experience in 2010, she made her WTA main draw debut.
In 2014, she competed in her maiden Grand Slam final but fell to Sharapova at the French Open.
In the 2018 French Open final, Halep defeated Sloane Stephens after earlier losing finals at Roland Garros (2017) and the Australian Open (2018). In the 2019 Wimbledon final, she defeated Serena Williams to win her first major championship.
For tennis tournament, tennis live score, tennis championship, tennis court, tennis live update, tennis live score update and other tennis news follow livematchupdatesnews.com.
