Two-time women’s Grand Slam champion, Simona Halep has been banned from tennis for four years after breaching the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.
The Romanian had already been suspended while an investigation into potential doping was carried out and she has now received a lengthy ban from the sport.
Halep was automatically withdrawn from the recent US Open due to her doping suspension.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency [ITIA] confirmed on Tuesday that an independent tribunal had decided the punishment due to two separate incidents involving the former Wimbledon champion.
Her first positive test for a banned substance came during last year’s US Open when a sample highlighted the prohibited substance roxadustat during a routine urine test. The substance stimulates production of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
It is most often used to treat sufferers of anaemia but is on WADA’s Prohibited Substance list due to it being considered a blood doping agegdoing and published an emotional statement stressing that she is ‘shocked and disappointed by the verdict’ and will be appealing it at the court of Court of Arbitration for Sport and will be taking legal action against the supplement company she insists gave her contaminated goods.
Part of her response said: ‘I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance.
‘I refuse to accept their decision of a four-year ban. 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 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,’ she added.
After publishing their findings, the ITIA explained Halep had committed intentional Anti-Doping Rule Violations under Article 2 of the TADP.
Those violations as outlined by the organisation relate to: ‘the presence and use of roxadustat as evidenced in Halep’s urine sample collected on 29 August 2022 at the US Open’ and ‘use of a prohibited substance or method during 2022, based on collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the player as part of the ABP programme’.
The tribunal agreed with Halep’s argument that she had taken a contaminated supplement, however, it was decided the levels of roxadustat found in the positive sample were too high for that to be the only cauision-makers also sided with three independent Athlete Passport Management Unit (APMU) representatives that ‘likely doping’ was the reason for the irregularities.
Her ban will run from 7 October 2022 until 6 October 2026 and Halep can appeal the decision.
Karen Moorhouse, Chief Executive Officer at the ITIA, explained the body’s findings, stating: ‘After a complex and rigorous hearing process, we welcome the independent tribunal’s decision.
‘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.’
