Simona Halep, former world number one tennis player, has tested positive for doping. The International Tennis Integrity Service announced that a Romanian athlete tested positive for the anemia drug Roxadustat during a test conducted on her during the US Open.
In this case, she was knocked out in the first round by Daria Snigur. Halep won two Grand Slams, Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 2018, and is facing suspension from any competitive activity.
Recall that six years ago, Maria Sharapova was punished with a 15-month suspension after a positive test for doping control. The Russian, former No. 1, tested positive for meldonium during a test at the Australian Open.
“Today begins the most difficult struggle of my life: the struggle for truth. I was notified of a positive test result for a banned substance called roxadustat in a very small amount, which was the biggest shock of my life.
Throughout my career, the idea of stealing has never crossed my mind as it goes against the principles I was taught.
Faced with such an unfair situation, I feel completely bewildered and betrayed. I will fight to the end to prove that I never knowingly took this banned substance, and I believe that sooner or later the truth will come out.
It’s not about titles or money. It’s about honor and the love story that I’ve developed in tennis over the last 25 years.”
It is worth noting that in September, Simona Halep announced that she would not participate in other tournaments until 2023.
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 21, 2022
Source: Kathimerini
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