Second Doping Offence: Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam winner, has been accused of committing a second doping infraction due to “irregularities in her athlete biological passport.”
Since October of last year, the former world No. 1 Wimbledon winner has been on a conditional suspension after testing positive for the blood-thinning substance Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.
Halep complained about the delay in her case last month, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said on Friday that the Romanian had been charged with a “further and separate breach of the tennis anti-doping programme” following a review of her athlete’s biological passport by a third party.
In a statement, Nicole Sapstead, senior director for anti-doping at the ITIA, said: “We recognise that this revelation complicates a situation that is already receiving a lot of attention.
“We have stayed dedicated to communicating with Ms. Halep in a sympathetic, effective, and timely manner from the beginning of this procedure, as well as any other at the ITIA.
“We are aware that the media is quite interested in these situations, of course.
“Until the process is over, it would be inappropriate for us to comment on specifics, but we will continue to work as quickly as we can with the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal and Ms Halep’s representatives.”
In April, Halep stated: “Even though I submitted the ITF all the documentation regarding my contamination last December, I’ve been provisionally suspended for eight months.
“I seek just to be allowed to be tried by the tribunal; I don’t ask for any special treatment. It seems unjust to me. How much longer will it last?”
She declared in October of last year: “I will fight to the bitter end to demonstrate that I never took any illegal substance with knowledge, and I have faith that sooner or later, the truth will come out.”
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