Gabriel Toncan, president of the Romanian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (FRCF), has defended Simona Halep after the former WTA number one was suspended for testing positive for roxadustat.

Simona Halep being defended by Gabrielle Tonsen after she tested positive

While at the World Fitness Championships in South Korea, Tongchan said that the pursuit of performance sports has become a real “tightrope dance”.

Simona Halep is the most popular Romanian name in the last 10 years, and rightly so! We were all proud of her victories and now there are many who enjoy the challenges she goes through…

They cannot enjoy spreading the news and making fun of them because they finally have a reason to bring it down to their level, envy and hatred born of frustration.

Who among you knows that substances banned by WADA are in so many common drugs and foods that you can test positive even if you are innocent? Who among you know that Simona Halep was one of the most tested Romanian athletes by the National Anti-Doping Agency or WADA?

At the level they play at, it would be impossible for anyone to maliciously harm them!

I do not support and never have supported doping, but it has become a real challenge to compete in sports and to avoid even the most common cold medicines in order not to get a positive result. You should always keep up-to-date with the list of prohibited substances, which changes from year to year.

Even if she made a mistake, for me, Simona Halep remains the same champion that we have been proud of in all corners of the world, and I pray that the good God will help her overcome this difficult moment in her life!” – Gabriel Tonsian on Facebook.

Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended for failing a doping test at the 2022 US Open, the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced on Friday.

Shortly after the explanation, which flew around the world, Simona Halep said: “I was informed that I tested positive for a substance called roxadustat in an extremely small amount. I will fight to the end to prove that I have never knowingly taken a banned substance.” Moreover, the ex-WTA leader said that she felt “completely confused and betrayed”.

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