Simona Halep Provisionally Suspended For Doping Violation

In a blockbuster announcement today, former No. 1 Simona Halep tested positive for a banned substance during the US Open and has been provisionally banned.

A media release from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) stated:
“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that Simona Halep, a 31-year-old Romanian tennis player, has been provisionally suspended under Article 7.12.1 of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). The ITIA sent the player a pre-charge notice of an Anti-Doping Rule Violation on 7 October 2022 under Article 2.1 of the Programme (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) and/or Article 2.2 (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid TUE).

“Halep, who has a WTA ranking of 9, provided a sample whilst competing at the US Open in August 2022. The sample was split into A and B samples and the subsequent analysis found that the A sample contained FG-4592 (Roxadustat), which is a prohibited substance listed in the 2022 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. Adverse Analytical Findings for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension.

“The player exercised their right to request that the B sample was analysed, which confirmed the finding in the A sample. While provisionally suspended, the player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned tennis events organised by the governing bodies of the sport.”

Halep ended her season after undergoing nose surgery a month ago. She was notified of the violation on October 7 and later the second sample confirmed the first’s findings.

Halep has just taken to social media to refute the allegations.

“Today begins the hardest match of my life: a fight for truth,” Halep said. “I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which came as the biggest shock of my life.

““Throughout my whole career, the idea of cheating never even crossed my mind once, as it is totally against all the values I have been educated with. Facing such an unfair situation, I feel completely confused and betrayed,” she added.

“I will fight until the end… the truth will come out.”

pic.twitter.com/bhS2B2ovzS

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 21, 2022

Roxudustat is a performance-enhancing drug that is banned from use.

Halep’s had a tumultuous off court 2022. She began the year coachless after splitting with Darren Cahill. She then added Patrick Mouratoglou to her team. There were/are talk of a divorce with her husband after only a year. Then nose surgery and now a positive doping test.

Halep, ranked No. 9, just turned 31. She lost in the first round at the US Open to Daria Snigur in her last match.

She will await a hearing where she will make her appeal and a final judgement on the suspension will be made. Until then, she will not be allowed to play.