Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been hit with a four-year ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, following two separate anti-doping rule violations. The agency made the announcement on Tuesday.
Halep, who is 31 years old, has been under provisional suspension since October 2022, after testing positive for the banned blood-booster Roxadustat at last year’s US Open.
The decision has not been accepted by Halep, and she plans to appeal to the highest court in sports.
In a statement, Halep expressed determination to clear her name and return to the court, stating, “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.”
Halep’s ban will remain in effect until October 6, 2026.
Notably, Halep reached the top spot in the WTA rankings in 2017 and secured victory at Wimbledon in 2019 by defeating 23-time major champion Serena Williams in the final. This triumph came a year after her French Open win.
The drug Roxadustat is authorized for medical usage in the European Union to treat anemia symptoms caused by chronic kidney failure. The European Medicines Agency explains that it stimulates the body to produce more erythropoietin (EPO), a natural hormone. EPO has frequently been used as a doping product by cyclists and distance runners.
Halep faced a second doping offense charge in May due to irregularities in her athlete biological passport. This charge was separate and additional to her previous provisional suspension.
The ITIA mentioned that the charge was based on an assessment of Halep’s biological passport profile by an expert panel. These passports establish a baseline measurement of an athlete’s substance levels and serve as a tool to detect doping.
In response to being initially charged by the ITIA, Halep shared on social media how it was the worst nightmare she had ever experienced.
In August, the U.S. Tennis Association stated that Halep was automatically withdrawn from the US Open’s qualifying draw. During a provisional suspension, players are ineligible to participate in or attend any sanctioned events.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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