In October 2022, Simona Halep was suspended after a banned substance was found in her body, and last night (Friday) it happened to her again. Irregularities were found in the Romanian's blood, which reached the top of the world rankings in 2017, and she faces a five-year suspension from the tour.
"Helpless." Halep (Photo: Reuters)
"Since October 7, when I was suspended for using banned substances, I have been through the worst nightmare of my life," she wrote on social media. "Not only was my name tarnished, I went through a difficult battle with the ITIA, for reasons I don't understand, trying to prove my innocence even though I had never taken any banned substance. Twice I tried before an independent judge, and twice I was rejected."
Halep added: "It has already been proven beyond any doubt that I am a victim, and suddenly they checked my blood and found something wrong. Three world experts examined it and made it clear that everything was normal. I feel helpless in the shadow of this harassment to find me guilty of something I have never done, all my life I have fought against cheating, these are not my values. I want to be tried before an independent judge to prove my innocence."
Halep, who culminated in beating Serena Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final, ended her tennis season last September, before the allegations became public due to a series of injuries, but returned to the tour, losing to Ukraine's Dries Snigor in the first round of the last US Open.
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