Simona Halep is awaiting the verdict of the Sports Court of Lausanne, and her former coach has taken responsibility. However, one player blames the practices found at the Muratoglu Academy.

>> Ion Cyriac, new allegations in Simona Halep suspension case: “Blood sample was improperly processed”

Sara Maria Popa reveals the practices of the Muratoglu Academy

18-year-old Sarah Maria Popa (448 WTA) spent her childhood at Muratoglu Academy and spoke about her experience and that of other young people who have taken certain substances since childhood.

“I want it to end well, as does every single person who supports it. There were mistakes on both sides. Maybe she should have been careful too, maybe the Muratoglu people should have been careful to tell her exactly when to give her the substance, maybe.

I don’t know the details and don’t want to give too much away. We don’t know the guts. There are athletes who take these substances and they don’t get caught because they know exactly when to withdraw the substance and they know exactly when to take it. For example, I was tested every week and never taken. But I can’t put my hand in the fire for other athletes.

Additives are different from substances given to athletes by physical trainers and doctors at the Academies. Supplements are just those daily pills that every person can take.

I left when I was 12 years old. I played at the Muratoglu Academy. True, athletes are given some substances from childhood. In juniors, you are not controlled by anti-doping.

They are allowed to grow up a little more, up to the age of 17, and from that time the checks begin more intensively. Players and parents must agree. They are given a sheet and have to sign a consent to take this substance.

The first time I was scared, I really didn’t know what was going on (no – anti-doping control),” Sara Maria Popa told AS.ro.

Other materials about the hearing of Simona Halep from TAS:

>> Simona Halep, annoyed by reporters after returning to the country: “Is all this madness necessary, right?”

>> The American press reports when Simona Halep can get a CAS verdict

>> PHOTOS of Simona Halep, first post after three days of TAS hearings – post by Darren Cahill

>> Simona Halep’s lawyer, the first words after the athlete spoke for three days in CAS

>> Simona Halep, the last day of CAS hearings – “Halep will remain with the stigma of doping for the rest of her life”

>> Simona Halep, TAS hearing – The most important details of the second day of hearings

>> Simona Halep, listening on TAS – The most important details from the first day

What you need to know about Simona Halep’s doping case

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

• Simona’s case was heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent tribunal in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• Halep was suspended for 4 years for two separate violations of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the presence and use of the substance roxadustat in a urine sample collected after an anti-doping test conducted at the 2022 US Open (1) and a violation of her biological passport (2).

• Simone has only one appeal: the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

• According to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on its official website, Halep will be heard by CAS on February 7-9, 2024.

• The Swiss court said that the ex-leader of the WTA asked to cancel the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and “reduce” its sanctions.

• If the 4-year disqualification remains in force, then the ex-WTA leader can theoretically return to the tennis court on October 6, 2026. Halep will be 35 years old at that time.

• On August 29, 2022, Simona Halep played her last official match on the world stage. At the US Open, in the inaugural round, our athlete unexpectedly defeated Daria Snigur (at that time, 124th place in the WTA, based on the qualification).