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Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No.1, is facing further complications in her doping case as she was charged with an additional violation related to irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). This new development adds another layer to Halep’s already high-profile situation, who was provisionally suspended from professional tennis in October due to a violation of anti-doping protocols, specifically testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat at the US Open.
The recent additional charge is based on the assessment of Halep’s biological passport by an independent panel, according to the ITIA. The biological passport program collects and compares athletes’ biological data, including blood samples, to spot any discrepancies over time that could suggest the athlete is doping. The ITIA maintains that this new charge is separate and in addition to the existing Roxadustat charge from August 2022.
In a rapid response to the announcement, Halep expressed her frustration and claimed innocence on social media, stating, “I feel helpless facing such harassment and a motivation on their behalf to prove me guilty of something I never did”. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, also voiced his concern on the matter, retweeting Halep’s statement and adding, “This situation is going way past the limits of the acceptable.”
Halep’s intense reaction is unsurprising considering her own account of her ordeal, “Since October 7, when I got charged by the ITIA for a suspicion of doping, I have lived the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life”. She maintains that she is innocent and has never taken any illicit substances. This assertion was reinforced during an interview with Tennis Majors, in which she alleged her positive test was a result of “contamination”.
Nicole Sapstead, Senior Director for Anti-Doping at the ITIA, acknowledged the complexity of the situation and the high media interest in the case. She stated that the ITIA would continue to engage with Halep’s representatives and the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal as quickly as possible, although it would be inappropriate to comment on specifics until the process concludes.
In the light of recent developments, Halep confirmed that a hearing will take place at the end of May, during which she plans to present her case arguing that contamination caused her positive test. In her statement, she shared her trust in the justice system and her anticipation of finally being able to present her case. Her last professional match was at the US Open last summer, where she lost to Ukrainian qualifier Daria Snigur in the first round.
