Simona Halep said she learned during her CAS trial that a blood sample taken from her in Bucharest had been stored improperly, and a doping control laboratory in Romania reacted after the two-time Grand Slam champion said that initially she was disqualified for 4 years.

>> Simona Halep and initial 4-year ban: “Broken rules during blood sampling in Bucharest”

The blood samples were stored at standard temperature, according to the Romanian Doping Control Laboratory

A press release was published on the institution’s website, which states that Simona Halep’s blood samples were stored at standard temperatures established by international bodies.

“Sample collection and analysis, reporting of analytical data of hematological parameters and temperature-related data (temperature values ​​recorded during sample collection, during sample transport, receipt at the laboratory and before homogenization of the sample before analysis), development and delivery of documentation laboratories for APMU and ITIA were conducted in accordance with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, the International Standard for Laboratories and additional documents issued by AMA/WADA”. This is stated in the report of the laboratory.

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The doping control laboratory in Bucharest was not informed about the identity of Simona Halep

Representatives of the laboratory in Bucharest, accredited by the AMA/WADA, said that the name of Simona Halep was not known to the employees who analyzed the relevant samples.

“The APMU (Sports Passport Management Unit) is responsible for evaluating the analytical data provided by the laboratory and the validity of the passport samples on behalf of the athlete’s passport custodian. The Romanian Doping Control Laboratory is not the APMU. Doping control laboratories are not custodians of athletes’ passports. The doping control laboratory in Romania, in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code, the International Standard for Laboratories and additional documents, does not report the identities of the athletes. The Romanian doping control laboratory was not informed about the identity of Miss Simona Halep.” specified in the message.

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Other bodies are involved in planning testing of athletes and collecting samples

“The Romanian doping control laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA/WADA) complies with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, the International Standard for Laboratories and additional documents issued by AMA/WADA, and the provisions of the international standard SR EN ISO/CEI 17025: 2018.

The main responsibilities of the doping control laboratory include receiving, analyzing doping control samples and reporting the results in accordance with the provisions of the International Standard for Laboratories.

In accordance with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code and supplementary documents, Testing Authorities (TA) are responsible for scheduling doping tests, Collection Authorities (SCA) are responsible for collecting samples, transporting them and delivering them to AMA/WADA-accredited doping control laboratories, and results management authorities (RMAs) are responsible for managing the results of doping control analyzes and non-analytical anti-doping rule violations.

All these powers are indicated in the doping control form, which is signed by the athlete at the end of the sample collection. A copy of this form is issued to the athlete.

As a rule, at this moment, the doping control inspector informs the athlete that his personal data (name and surname, date of birth, signature, etc.) are not transmitted to the laboratory and are not contained in any document that is transmitted to the laboratory along with the evidence.

The Romanian Doping Control Laboratory, like any other AMA/WADA accredited Doping Control Laboratory, is not a TA, SCA or RMA”also stated in the document.

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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).

• Halep was heard at the 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.

• 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).

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