Former World No.1 Tested Positive for Banned Substance After US Open
Tennis star Simona Halep has been hit with a four-year ban following her anti-doping violation. The former World No.1 tested positive for the prohibited anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat after last year's US Open.
Drug on World Anti-Doping Agency's Banned List
Roxadustat is a banned substance on the World Anti-Doping Agency's list. The drug is known for its ability to increase haemoglobin and red blood cell count, which can provide an advantage to athletes in cardiovascular-based sports.
Provisional Suspension and Investigation
Halep was issued a provisional suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) last October. Following further investigation, the ITIA discovered irregularities in the Romanian player's biological passport.
Explanation Not Enough to Avoid Suspension
Halep claimed that a contaminated supplement was the cause of her positive test. While the ITIA accepted her explanation, they still imposed a four-year suspension. The tribunal found that the volume of the supplement Halep ingested could not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in her sample.
Suspension Period
Halep has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, and the tribunal credited this against the period of ineligibility. Her suspension will run from October 7, 2022, until October 6, 2026.
Right to Appeal
Halep has the right to appeal the four-year ban. The suspension could potentially end her career.
ITIA Chief Executive Comments on Decision
Karen Moorhouse, the Chief Executive of the ITIA, welcomed the tribunal's decision. She emphasized that the ITIA followed proper procedures and that the full decision will be published in due course.
Halep's Response
Halep, the former Wimbledon champion, has yet to react to her suspension. However, when news of her failed test first became public, she declared her innocence and expressed her determination to prove that she never knowingly took any prohibited substance.
