The former world number 1 and double Grand Slam winner (Roland-Garros 2018, Wimbledon 2019), was suspended for four years on October 7, 2022 for a double violation of anti-doping regulations.
First of all due to the discovery of roxadustat in a urine sample during the US Open 2022, a molecule which stimulates the production of red blood cells and classified among EPOs in the regulations of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). ), then for irregularities in his biological passport, a long-term monitoring tool for high-level athletes.
His sanction now runs until October 2026.
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As since the start of the affair almost a year ago, Halep, 32 years old - 64 weeks on the throne between October 2017 and February 2018 - nevertheless continues to proclaim his innocence.
With her back against the wall and unable to practice her profession since, the former world number one appealed to the CAS which must deliver its conclusions by Friday.
“As neither party has requested a public hearing”
, the debates will be held behind closed doors from 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday and until approximately 3:30 p.m. on Friday, without Simona Halep communicating on her side, before a sentence rendered to a date still unknown, specifies the CAS in a press release.
Simona Halep insists that roxadusate was found in her body following taking a collagen supplement recommended by her former trainer Patrick Mouratoglou, which turned out to be contaminated.
However, the first court ruled that the level of the banned substance found in his body was far too high.
Halep is the first leading tennis player caught in the anti-doping net since the resounding suspension of Maria Sharapova in 2016. Testing positive for meldonium, the Russian star ultimately received a fifteen-month suspension.
Read alsoTennis: suspended for doping, Halep charges her former coach Patrick Mourotoglou
On November 3, his former coach, Mouratoglou, broke his silence and said that he and his team had suggested the athlete buy the contaminated supplement without carrying out proper verification.
“
So we suggested that he take collagen.
It turns out that this collagen was contaminated, there was no way of knowing.
But I feel responsible for what happened because it’s my team
,” said Serena Williams’ former coach.
A necessarily difficult episode for the Romanian to endure.
“
They are the ones who gave me this food supplement.
And for this error, her error, it's me who pays the high price,
she told
Paris Match
.
25 years of my career have been destroyed!
We have not been in direct contact for several months.
I haven't trained at the Mouratoglou Academy since last year.
We no longer work together”
During her defense before the CAS, she intends to attribute all responsibility to Mouratoglou's team for the consumption of a supplement containing the banned substance.
Her lawyers will rely on the fact that the native of Constanta had a team with great experience.
So she had no reason not to trust them... She still hopes that her sentence will be at least halved.
This verdict would allow her to return to the circuit and become a 100% tennis player again.
“My dream is to come back, whatever my age.
One thing is certain: I want to choose the end of my career and I don't want to end it anywhere other than on the court,
she whispered to
Paris Match.
I think I deserve it after all the work I've done over the years.
»
.
His last match dates back to his defeat, in the first round of the US Open, on August 29, 2022. And it could be the last.
Because if the CAS maintains its suspension, the Romanian will undoubtedly have to draw a line under her career.