Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been charged with a second doping offence relating to “irregularities in her athlete biological passport.”
The Romanian tennis player, aged 31, has been under suspension since October after testing positive for a banned substance during the US Open.
The new charge is separate from the one she is already suspended for. Halep took to Instagram to express her feelings of helplessness in the face of such harassment. She vehemently denies the charges, suggesting that she has been a victim of contamination.
The athlete’s biological passport program monitors and analyzes biological data to detect any discrepancies over time that may indicate doping.
Last year, Halep’s suspension was imposed after testing positive for roxadustat, a drug used to treat anemia by stimulating red blood cell production. She criticized the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), responsible for testing in the sport, for their handling of her case, citing unnecessary delays in the process.
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Halep stated, “I have lived through the worst nightmare in my life. Not only has my name been tarnished in the worst possible way, but I am constantly facing a determination from the ITIA, for reasons I cannot comprehend, to prove my guilt, despite never considering taking an illicit substance.”
She expressed her hope to have the opportunity to prove her innocence at a hearing scheduled for the end of May.
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The ITIA stated that it is engaged in ongoing discussions with an independent tribunal team and Halep’s representatives in order to resolve the matter as quickly and efficiently as possible, without specifying a timeline.
Nicole Sapstead, the ITIA’s senior director for anti-doping, emphasized their commitment to engaging with Halep in an empathetic, efficient, and timely manner.
Halep spoke out in April, expressing frustration with the prolonged resolution of her case, but the ITIA stated that the process is still ongoing.
Investigations into failed tests by the ITIA can be complex, particularly when a player denies knowingly taking a substance. These cases often take several months to be resolved.
In such instances, a player can present evidence to disprove or explain the failed test, which Halep claims to have done. This would lead to further investigation and testing by the ITIA, resulting in an extended process.
Halep, who was ranked ninth at the time of her suspension, is one of the most high-profile tennis players to fail a drug test since Maria Sharapova’s ban in 2016. Sharapova, a five-time major champion from Russia, received a suspension for a doping violation.