Former world number one Simona Halep receives harsh sanction for doping

During this day, the The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that an independent court has suspended Romanian tennis player Simona Halep. for a period of four years after violating the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP) due to consumption of roxadustate, a compound used to treat anemia but it is on WADA’s list of banned substances because it is considered a blood doping agent, which increases hemoglobin and red blood cell production.

“Halep, 31, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was charged with two separate TADP violations. The first mentioned to an Adverse Analytical Finding (FAA) for the banned substance roxadustate at the 2022 US Open, conducted through periodic urine testing during competition. The second charge related to irregularities in Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). said the entity in a press release.

In this direction, The independent tribunal met between June 28 and 29, 2023 in London and heard expert scientific witnesses on behalf of Halep and the ITIA. The player also testified directly before the panel as part of the proceedings.

Thus, it was determined on Monday that the tennis player committed intentional violations of the anti-doping rules under Article 2 of the TADP and established the presence and use of roxadustate, as evidenced by the urine sample by Halep collected on August 29, 2022 at the US Open. . Furthermore, This conclusion was reached after the analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the European Union under the ABP program.

The court accepted Halep’s argument that they had taken a contaminated supplement, but determined that the volume ingested by the player could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustate found in the positive sample.

Regarding his problems with the biological passport, “the ABP accusation was also confirmed, and the court said it had no reason to doubt the unanimous “strong opinion” expressed by each of the three independent experts at the Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU). that “probable doping” was the explanation for the irregularities. in Halep’s profile.”

Halep has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, which the court attributed to the period of ineligibility. As such, the suspension of the former world number one It will take place from October 7, 2022 to October 6, 2026. The case remains subject to appeal.

Karen Moorhouse, chief executive of ITIA, said: “Following a complex and rigorous hearing process, we welcome the decision of the independent tribunal. “The volume of evidence that the court had to consider in the Roxadustate and ABP proceedings was considerable. »

“The ITIA has followed the appropriate processes as we would any other person, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, fulfilling our purpose and responsibility to uphold the principle of fair competition in the name of sport. The committee acknowledged that proper procedure was followed in the written decision. he added.

In all cases, the player plans to appeal to the CAS. Through a publication on his social networks, he expressed his annoyance at the sanction.

“Last year was the hardest game of my life and unfortunately my fight continues. I have dedicated my life to the beautiful game of tennis. “I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and I am proud of the fact that I have never knowingly or intentionally consumed any prohibited substance,” he begins by saying. And adds: ““I am grateful to finally have a result after many unfounded delays and the feeling of living in purgatory for over a year. I am both surprised and disappointed by their decision,” lament.