Ilie Nastase is no stranger to controversial remarks but his most recent ones after Simona Halep's doping ban are quite bold.
Due to his blunt attitude and lack of filter, the former player has always had strong convictions that have disturbed many people. The Romanian told Playsport.ro that sources in tennis had told him that other well-known players had problems comparable to Halep's but weren't disciplined.
"I can’t tell you anything because I don’t know the details. Only Simona can answer! On the other hand, if Simona Halep was American, nothing is published. Nothing at all,” explained the 76-year-old suggesting preferential treatment to certain countries.
“I know from sources close to world tennis the cases of two athletes about whom nothing was ever written on this topic, although they would have been in similar situations. If their names had been in the press, the tennis sponsor or sponsors would have gone home the next day!”
When probed further about the subject, Nastase made references to Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova as the players involved. It's not the first time the Romanian has attacked Williams; five years ago, he said that Williams' physical appearance raises questions about whether she uses performance-enhancing drugs.