The Romanian Simona Halepformer world number 1 in tennis and two-time tennis champion grand slamwas suspended four years for two infractions against the anti-doping regulations, announced this Tuesday the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Halep31 years old, had already been provisionally suspended since October 2022. Her four-year suspension ends on October 6, 2026specifies the ITIA.
The Romanian player, winner of Roland Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019, You can appeal against the decision.
The first violation is a positive for roxadustat during the US Open 2022. This substance stimulates the production of red blood cells and is prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Halep cries out for her innocence
The Romanian has insisted that experts have shown that this substance was in her body due to accidental contamination after consuming a food supplement and claims her innocence, demanding to be able to testify and defend herself before anti-doping authorities.
The second charge is related to irregularities in his biological passport, explained the independent body in charge of combating doping in tennis.
“They kill not only my reputation, but also my career”said Halep in May, adding live “the worst nightmare” and denouncing “harassment” on the part of the ITIA: “He wants to prove that I am guilty of anything that I have not done”.
Halep He has not played again since his elimination in the first round of the US Open 2022a year ago.
The Romanian is the first prominent player to be suspended for doping since Maria Sharapova in 2016when he tested positive for meldonium and was suspended 15 months.
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Source: Ambito
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