Outspoken tennis veteran Ilie Nastase has once again raised eyebrows with his comments after suggesting that the reporting of Simona Halep’s failed drugs test could be racially motivated.
Halep confirmed on Friday that she has been provisionally suspended from the Tour after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat. An anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the production of haemoglobin and red blood cells in the body. The Romanian has since issued a statement describing her suspension as the ‘biggest shock’ of her life and has vowed to clear her name.
In the aftermath of the announcement, various tennis players have rallied in support of Halep, who ended her season early to undergo surgery on her nose. Tennis figures have also commented on the situation but it is the words of Nastase that has triggered controversy.
During an interview with Playsport.ro, the 76-year-old claims he has ‘sources close to the world of tennis’ saying that other high-profile players on the Tour have also found themselves in a similar case to Haelp but managed to escape scrutiny due to their nationality.
“I can’t tell you anything because I don’t know the details. Only Simona can answer! On the other hand, if Simona Halep was American, nothing is published. Nothing at all.” He said.
“I know from sources close to world tennis the cases of two athletes about whom nothing was ever written on this topic, although they would have been in similar situations.
“If their names had been in the press, the tennis sponsor or sponsors would have gone home the next day!”
When pressed further, Nastase went on to name Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams as the two players he is referring to. Sharapova did serve a ban from the sport after testing positive for Meldonium but it is unclear as to if he is referring to that incident or another.
Williams, who has never failed a drug test throughout her career, has previously been accused of doping by Nastase. Five years ago he claimed that her physical appearance raises speculation about her use of prohibited substances. At no stage has the two-time Grand Slam winner produced any evidence to support his comments.
Nastase has previously been issued with an eight-month ban from working within the International Tennis Federation after being found guilty of making ‘racially insensitive’ remarks about the skin color of Williams’ unborn baby back in 2017 which he later apologised for. During the same year, he was also verbally abusive towards former player Johanna Konta during a controversial Fed Cup tie where he captained the Romanian team.
