Simona Halep Ban: Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been banned four years for anti-doping rule violations. An independent tribunal has handed over the suspension to the Romanian on Tuesday.The Tennis Anti-Doping Programme imposed the sanctions for two separate breaches by Halep.
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The independent tribunal determined that Halep had committed ‘intentional’ anti-doping violations. The 31-year-old has been provisionally suspended since October 2022. This means that she can return to action during October 2026.
She tested positive for banned blood-booster roxadustat at the U.S. Open last year. The independent tribunal also found irregularities in Halep’s athlete biological passport last year.
The charges listed out by ITIA
“The first (charge) related to an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for the prohibited substance roxadustat at the U.S. Open in 2022, carried out through regular urine testing during competition,” the ITIA said in a statement. “The second charge related to irregularities in Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP),” the ITIA added.
Halep had strongly denied knowingly taking the banned substance. She said she had the evidence to show that the small amounts of the anaemia drug entered her system from a licensed supplement that was contaminated.
“The tribunal accepted Halep’s argument that they had taken a contaminated supplement. But determined the volume the player ingested could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive sample,” the ITIA explained. The ruling is however subject to appeal.
Simona Halep to continue her fight
Soon after the ruling Simona Halep has stated that she will continue her fight against the ban. “The last year has been the hardest of my life and unfortunately my fight conrtinues,” she stated in a long post that she has posted on X.
“I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban,” added Halep. “While I am grateful to finally have an outcome following numerous unfounded delays and a feeling of living in a purgatory over a year. I am both shocked and disappointed by their decision.”
Halep added that she is continuing to train and hopes to win this battle soon. “I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court. I intend to appeal this decision to the court of Arbitration for Sport,” she concluded.
