Simona Halep to appeal against four-year ban for anti-doping rule violations
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Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, after testing positive for banned blood-booster roxadustat.
PHOTO: AFP
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LONDON – Romania’s former world No. 1 Simona Halep said on Tuesday that she would appeal to sport’s highest court against the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (Itia) decision to ban her for four years after two separate anti-doping rule violations.
The 31-year-old had been provisionally suspended since October 2022 after testing positive for banned blood-booster roxadustat at the US Open last season, where she lost in the first round.
Following Tuesday’s conclusion, she was “shocked and disappointed” and again blamed contaminated supplements, adding that she “refused to accept their (Itia) decision of a four-year ban” which runs until Oct 6, 2026.
“Today, a tribunal under the tennis anti-doping programme announced a tentative decision in my case. The last year has been the hardest match of my life and, unfortunately, my fight continues,” Halep said in a statement.
“I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never intentionally used any prohibited substance. I intend to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
Itia said it came to its decision based on the collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by Halep. It also heard evidence from scientific experts and sifted through some 8,000 pages of evidence.
“The first (charge) related to an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the prohibited substance roxadustat at the US Open in 2022, carried out through regular urine testing during competition,” it said in a statement.
“The second charge related to irregularities in Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).”
Halep strongly denies knowingly taking roxadustat and said she had evidence to show small amounts of the anaemia drug entered her system from a contaminated licensed supplement.
“The tribunal accepted Halep’s argument that she had taken a contaminated supplement, but determined the volume ingested could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive sample,” Itia added.
The ABP charge was upheld as three independent experts were unanimous that “likely doping” was the explanation for the irregularities in Halep’s profile.
“The volume of evidence for the tribunal to consider in both the roxadustat and ABP proceedings was substantial,” said Karen Moorhouse, Itia’s chief executive officer.
Halep also explained how she adjusted her nutritional supplements ahead of the hard-court season in 2022 following recommendations from “my trusted team and physiotherapist”.
“None of the listed ingredients included any prohibited substances. However, we now know – and the tribunal agreed – one of them was contaminated with roxadustat,” she said.
Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, meanwhile, defended the player and said he has “no doubt” about her integrity.
“I hope that Simona will prevail at CAS, which is the only tribunal that is not controlled by the Itia. I do not believe that the Itia looked for the truth in Simona’s case,” he added. REUTERS, AFP
