April 28, (THEWILL) – Simona Halep has urged tennis’ anti-doping organisation to grant her the opportunity to prove her innocence after being provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) last October.
The Romanian player was tested during the US Open last year, and both her A and B samples confirmed the presence of a banned blood-booster drug called roxadustat. Halep, who is a former Wimbledon and French Open champion, denies knowingly taking the banned substance and claims she has evidence that shows low quantities of the anti-anemia drug entered her body through an authorized supplement that was contaminated.
In her first interview since learning of her failed drug test, Halep expressed her frustration over not being granted her right to an independent court hearing. “I’m not asking for special treatment. I just ask to be judged,” the 31-year-old said. “How much longer is this going to take?”
The former world number one says she has taken ten drug tests since her positive result, and all of them have returned negative. She hopes to have a hearing in May but fears it may also be postponed.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
