Simona Halep’s case continues to provoke reactions after the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) brought a new charge against the Romanian. “violation” of the biological passport.

Patrick Muratoglu and Simona HalepPhoto: Antoine Couvercelle / Panoramic / Bestimage / Profimedia

>> Simona Halep expressed displeasure with the ITIA in the case of the delay in the court decision on her doping case

Patrick Muratoglu accuses ITIA of harassment and asks not to postpone the consideration of Simona Halep’s case

A day after the ITIA press release and Simona Halep’s statement, it was coach Patrick Muratoglu’s turn to express his support for the former world leader.

“First of all, I want to say that I planned to stay away from any public comment regarding the Simona Halep case. I really believed that ITIA would conduct an honest investigation and establish the truth. The fact that I don’t believe the same thing anymore is troubling, and it made me finally write these lines.

I was lucky enough to meet Simona Halep in April 2022. From that moment I worked hard. I want to say a few words about her, for those who have not met her: I discovered a rare character in Simona.

She is kind, sweet, does not have any aggression or envy towards others. He devoted his whole life to tennis. This is her childhood hobby. No father, no mother, no family. Only her! He clearly received a select education with some extremely strong values.

Her honesty is beyond doubt. I know that he would never and NEVER do anything illegal. The support received from the tennis world was extremely strong, because people were convinced that they would never do such a thing.

Since the day ITIA charged her, I have been with her and will continue to be with her every day. I will support her in the fight for the truth. I am a supporter of clean sports. I think tennis needs an anti-doping system capable of detecting cheaters.

At the same time, I am extremely shocked by the way this case was handled. I thought ITIA would pursue the ultimate goal of establishing the truth, but clearly they are just trying to prove guilt. Although Simona was able to provide numerous proofs of her innocence starting in December 2022.

This latest charge, which was sent to her yesterday and is entirely related to the first case, is a pure interpretation of her biological passport. In other words, the ITIA did not find any banned substance in her blood, it only notes that her blood parameters are suspicious.

Eminent experts who have analyzed the evidence have concluded that ITIA’s claim is completely wrong and misinterpreted. Simona’s blood was completely normal.

Simone has made it clear that she is not asking for special treatment, just compliance with the clause that provides for a review by an independent court. Therefore, I am asking ITIA to stop this harassment and to stop constantly postponing the case. It was supposed to happen in February, now it is planned for the end of May,” wrote Patrick Muratoglu, according to GSP.

>> Simona Halep’s stormy reaction after ITIA’s accusations of a new violation of the anti-doping program

Know:

  • Simona Halep is temporarily suspended from tennis due to a positive test for Roxadustat (conducted during the US Open 2022).
  • Simona’s case will be heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent court in London that hears doping cases in white sport.
  • However, if innocence cannot be proven, Simone has one more appeal: the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.
  • It will be recalled that the maximum suspension that Halep could receive is 4 years.

>> Simona Halep and a new accusation of doping – What the international press writes