Experts hired by Halep determined that traces of roxadustat came from contamination of one of her nutritional supplements. The former Romanian world number 1, winner of Roland-Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, tested positive in August 2022 in New York. Subsequently, she was suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and faces up to four years of suspension.
“I have never knowingly ingested any prohibited product,” Halep asserted.
Parallel with Sharapova’s Case
Halep is the first high-level player involved in a doping scandal since Maria Sharapova’s suspension in 2016. The Russian star tested positive for meldonium and ultimately received a fifteen-month suspension.
The Romanian athlete says she feels “good” because she knows she is “honest.” However, she regrets that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rejected her evidence and that several hearings have been postponed or canceled. A request to lift her provisional suspension was also denied.
New Hearing Scheduled for May 28
Simona Halep eagerly awaits a new hearing, scheduled for May 28. “I’m not asking for special treatment. I just want to be judged: how much longer do I have to wait?” she questioned.
This article was written based on information provided by the news website of France Télévisions here.
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