Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, faces a four-year ban due to two separate anti-doping rule violations, as stated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Halep, who has previously triumphed at Wimbledon and the French Open, has been under provisional suspension since October 2022 following a positive test for the prohibited blood-booster Roxadustat during the previous year’s US Open.
Halep has vehemently contested the decision and plans to appeal to the highest sports court, expressing her refusal to accept it. In her statement, she affirmed her commitment to clearing her name from what she termed “false allegations” and her desire to return to the court. She intends to take the matter to The Court of Arbitration for Sport and explore all legal avenues against the implicated supplement company.
Her suspension is set to endure until October 6, 2026.
Roxadustat is a drug approved for medical use in the European Union to address anemia symptoms arising from chronic kidney failure. It stimulates the body to produce more of the natural hormone erythropoietin (EPO), a substance historically favored by cyclists and long-distance runners as a doping agent.
Halep faced a second doping charge in May, relating to irregularities in her athlete biological passport. This charge was distinct from the provisional suspension issued in 2022. The ITIA explained that this charge was founded on an evaluation of Halep’s biological passport profile by an expert panel. These passports provide a baseline measure of substances in an athlete’s body and serve as a tool to monitor doping.
Halep shared on social media at the time that she had been living through the “worst nightmare” of her life since the initial charge by the ITIA.
In August, the U.S. Tennis Association disclosed that Halep was automatically withdrawn when the US Open qualifying draw was conducted. During a provisional suspension, a player is ineligible to participate in or attend any sanctioned events.
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