Simona Halep has revealed that she will appeal a four year ban from tennis for two doping breaches.
The Romanian last played at last year’s US Open where she lost in the opening round to Daria Snigur.
Since then Halep has been awaiting for a verdict after being provisionally suspended.
Now today, it has been revealed that the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) have given the former Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion a four year ban for two separate breaches of the Anti-Doping Programme (TADP).
The two charges are in relation to an Adverse Analytical Finding (AAF) for prohibited substance roxadustat at the US Open last year and also irregularities in Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP).
During the findings the ITIA revealed that the evidence was clear from last year’s US Open and that they collected 51 blood samples from the player as part of the ABP programme.
The tribunal accepted Halep’s arguments against the charges but determined that the volume the player ingested was too much and that doping was the likely cause for irregularities in Halep’s passport.
Speaking about the lengthy process ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse explained why the process took so long, “After a complex and rigorous hearing process, we welcome the independent tribunal’s decision,” Moorhouse said in a statement.
“The volume of evidence for the tribunal to consider in both the roxadustat and ABP proceedings was substantial. The ITIA has followed the proper processes as we would with any other individual – in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code – fulfilling our purpose and responsibility to uphold the principle of fair competition, on behalf of the sport. The panel recognised that appropriate procedure had been followed within the written decision.
“We do understand the significant public interest in these cases and remain committed to being as transparent as possible and the full decision will be published in due course.”
Meanwhile Simona Halep has announced that she will appeal the ban as she details the struggles she has gone through since the announcement that she tested positive for doping, “Today, a tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme announced a tentative decision in my case,” Halep said.
“The last year has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis. I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.
“In a 126-page report, the tribunal found that I committed both charges brought by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) – an in competition positive urine test for a prohibited substance and a breach of the Athlete Biological Passport Programme.
“My representatives and I presented the ITIA and the tribunal with compelling evidence in support of my defense, including multiple legitimate questions regarding the conclusions reached around my Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) testing. While I am grateful to finally have an outcome following numerous unfounded delays and a feeling of living in purgatory for over a year, I am both shocked and disappointed by their decision.
“I believe in a clean sport and in almost two decades as a professional tennis player, through hundreds of tournaments and two Grand Slam titles, I have taken 200 blood and urine tests to check for prohibited substances – all of which have been clean, until August 29, 2022. Ahead of the hard court season in 2022, upon recommendation from my trusted team and physiotherapist, I adjusted my nutritional supplements.
“None of the listed ingredients included any prohibited substances however we now know – and the tribunal agreed – one of them was contaminated with roxadustat. I was tested almost weekly after my initial positive test through early 2023, all of which came back negative.”
“Despite this evidence, the ITIA brought an ABP charge only after its expert group learned my identity, causing two out of three to suddenly change their opinion in favor of ITIA’s allegations. The ITIA relied solely on the opinions of these experts who looked only at my blood parameters – which I’ve maintained for more than 10 years in the same range.
“This group ignored the fact no prohibited substance has ever been found in my blood or urine samples with the sole exception of one August 29 positive test for roxadustat, which was present at an extremely low level and which, when considering my negative test three days prior, could only have been caused by accidental exposure to roxadustat.
“I am eternally grateful for the outpouring of support I have received from my family, friends, and tennis fans around the world. 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 and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question.”
Until Halep’s appeal takes place the Romanian is suspended from the sport until the 6th of October 2026.
