"Simona doesn't even have a personal doctor" - Halep's father stunned by positive test
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has temporarily banned Simona Halep from play after she tested positive for banned substance during the US Open this year.
When the ITIA decided to suspend the athlete on October 7, 2022, for breaking anti-doping rules, the whole tennis world was stunned. She tested positive for the chemical Roxadustat, which is in the same category as EPO for forbidden substances, during the US Open, where she lost to Daria Snigur in the first round.
Right after the positive test, many colleagues from the WTA Tour as well as her former coach or even ex-husband expressed their support to former world no. 1. In a recent interview, also her father showed support to Simona Halep as he explained that it's almost impossible that she would allow a banned substance into her body.
"It is a situation that is not easy to go through. But with faith and God's help, everything will be resolved," Stere Halep told observatornews.ro. "And I hope the competent bodies do justice! So, Simona is not guilty of anything at all. She took medication for her glands, but we don't know anything."
"Who would prescribe such a thing? Simona doesn't even have a personal doctor, she never had. If a bottle of water was opened, she didn't drink until she was given an unsealed bottle. We suspect absolutely no one because suspicion is the greatest sin. Betrayal? I don't know who it is."
"She feels betrayed by what is happening, not necessarily by anyone. We are a family that does not suspect anyone until the pure truth is known," said Stere Halep.
Just in
- 03:55 Gauff's 'Resilience' Praised By Tennis Legend After Her WTA Finals Triumph
- 02:30 'Crazy World': Shelton Stunned By $300 Hourly Rate For Doing Work On His Car
- 01:05 Tiafoe Handed Heavy Fine After Outrageous Rant At Umpire In Shanghai
- 14/11 18-Year-Old Prodigy Bartunkova Accepts Six-Month Suspension For Anti-Doping Breach
- 14/11 Sinner Completes Perfect Clean Sweep With Last Group Win Over Medvedev At ATP Finals
- 14/11 Raducanu's Presence Always Leads To 'Major Spike' In Ticket Sales Says Tournament Director