Serena Williams takes a swipe at Simona Halep
Tennis star Serena Williams seems to have taken a dig at her former rival Simona Halep following the news of Halep's four-year ban for a positive drugs test. Williams posted a cryptic comment on Twitter that is believed to refer to Halep's victory over her in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
Major blow for Simona Halep
Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been handed a four-year ban after testing positive for the prohibited anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat. The positive test came after the 2022 US Open, and the ban was confirmed on Tuesday.
Pointed comment from Serena Williams
On Twitter, Serena Williams seemingly reacted to the news of Halep's ban with a pointed comment. She wrote, "8 is a better number," which is believed to be a reference to Halep's victory over Williams in the 2019 Wimbledon final.
No impact on Wimbledon title
While Serena Williams may feel aggrieved about Simona Halep's Wimbledon win in light of the ban, there is no suggestion that Halep will be stripped of the title as a result.
The banned drug and Halep's explanation
The drug Roxadustat, which Halep tested positive for, is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned list due to its ability to increase haemoglobin and red blood cell count. Halep's explanation for the positive test was that a tainted supplement was the cause, which was accepted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency. However, she still received a four-year suspension.
