Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended by the Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) after testing optimistic for a banned substance at this 12 months’s US Open.
Halep examined optimistic for Roxadustat, an anti-anemia treatment that's banned by the World Anti-Doping Company. Halep is prohibited from enjoying in any WTA occasions and will face a prolonged suspension.
Halep, now ranked No. 9 on this planet, is the most important title within the sport to face such penalties since Maria Sharapova was suspended two years in 2016 for a optimistic doping take a look at. Sharapova’s ban was appealed and in the end diminished to fifteen months.
Halep stated on Instagram that she plans to combat the suspension.
“In the present day begins the toughest match of my life: a combat for the reality. I've been notified that I've examined optimistic for a substance referred to as Roxadustat in an especially low amount, which got here as the most important shock of my life,” Halep wrote.
“All through my complete profession, the concept of dishonest by no means even crossed my thoughts as soon as, as it's completely towards all of the values I've been educated with. Going through such an unfair scenario, I really feel utterly confused and betrayed.”
Halep rose to No. 1 on this planet in 2017 and backed up that rating with Grand Slam triumphs on the 2018 French Open and 2019 Wimbledon, which she captured with a near-flawless 6-2, 6-2 victory over Serena Williams within the remaining.
She was having a profitable 2022 summer time season, reaching the Wimbledon semifinals and profitable the Nationwide Financial institution Open in Toronto in August.
The ITIA stated that Halep requested her B pattern to be analyzed and it confirmed the findings within the preliminary take a look at.
“I'll combat till the tip to show that I by no means knowingly took any prohibited substance and I've religion that eventually, the reality will come out,” Halep wrote. “It’s not concerning the titles or the cash. It’s about honor, and the love story I've developed with the sport of tennis over the past 25 years.”
The 31-year-old Romanian was upset within the first spherical of the US Open by qualifier Daria Snigur. She underwent nostril surgical procedure after the US Open and introduced she could be out the remainder of the season.
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