Simona Halep31 years old, is one of the great tennis players of the last decade, former world number 1 and has two trophies from grand slam as the most successful of a list of winners with 24 WTA titles, in Roland Garros (2018) and Wimbledon (2019).
However, the Romanian player is going through the most difficult phase of his career since he tested positive for roxadustat in October, a banned substance classified as EPO in the regulations of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Halep, now 26th in the ranking, was temporarily suspended by International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and faces a penalty of up to four years. The Romanian broke his silence and defended his innocence in an interview with Tennis Majors, explaining that he had been the victim of “contamination” with one of his “food supplements”.
According to the explanations received by the experts accepted by Halep, the tests “established that these traces are the result of contamination, contamination of one of my food supplements, which explains the small amount found in my body,” said the tennis player. .Romanian.
“I have never consciously consumed the slightest prohibited product. I know I am clean,” added Halep, who stated that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) your evidence is rejected. “I demand to be heard by an independent court,” he pleaded.
Many hearings have been postponed or canceled by the ITF. A request to lift his temporary suspension was also denied. Waiting for a possible new hearing on May 28, the Romanian expresses his impatience: “I’m not asking for special treatment. I just want them to judge me: how much longer do I have to wait?” Halep asked herself.
With his temporary suspension, the Romanian cannot compete in any tournament. His last official fight began last August, when he lost to US Open 1st round against ukrainian daria snigur. Simona said she wanted to play again and felt “as strong as ever, if not stronger.”
Source: La Verdad
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