Former world no. 1 Simona Halep suspended after testing positive for a banned substance

| by Evita Mueller

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has provisionally suspended Simona Halep following a positive drug test at the US Open this year.

The news came down on Friday with the ITIA handing the player a suspension for violating anti-doping rules on October 7, 2022. The detected substance is Roxadustat is in the same category as EPO for banned substances and the test was done at the US Open where she lost to Daria Snigur.

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Leading up to the event, Halep won a trophy at the Canadian Masters in Toronto after beating Beatriz Haddad Maia in the final 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Halep was given a chance to provide a B sample and the same result has been found with the player unable to play any events under this ruling.

Halep said in a statement: "Today begins the hardest match of my life: a fight for the truth. 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.”

"I will fight until the end to prove that I never knowingly took any prohibited substance and I have faith that sooner or later, the truth will come out.”

"It's not about the titles or the money. It's about honour, and the love story I have developed with the game of tennis over the last 25 years."

An ITIA statement read: "While provisionally suspended, the player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned tennis events organised by the governing bodies of the sport."

In her career, the Romanian rose to no. 1 spot in October 2017 and lifted two Grand Slam trophies when she triumphed at the Roland Garros in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019.

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