Simona Halep faces a four-year ban after testing positive for roxadustat at the US Open 2022. Pompiliu Popescu, the former Romanian national soccer team doctor, has explained why he believes the former WTA leader’s coaches are to blame for the situation. in which it is located.

Simona HalepPhoto: Mike FREY / AFP / Profimedia
  • The first reaction of Simona Halep after the disqualification for doping
  • What is roxadustat, the EPO-class substance that Simona Halep tested positive for: “It can help improve athletic performance” – sports doctor
  • Ilye Nestase: “Maybe the doctor gave him something forbidden”
  • Simona Halep’s ex-coach: “I would have made it public earlier to show that I had good intentions”
  • Toni Yuruk’s reaction after Simona Halep was revealed to be positive
  • The suspension that Simona Halep may receive after a positive test – The reaction of the international press

Pompiliu Popescu says that coaches are to blame for Simona Halep’s doping case

Popescu stated that doctors will not suggest an athlete to use such substances and that only coaches looking for money can resort to such a decision.

“The sample is collected at least three weeks, a month ago. Two tests were performed, A and B. Test B completes the test, confirms the test. This is final. In this situation, from the athlete’s point of view, there is nothing else to do. Doping is definitely proven. Whether he goes to TAS or not, he will probably think that it was a mistake. Well, it can’t be a mistake because this substance cannot be accidentally ingested. Not found in food. It just needs to be administered.

Then the substance is used in situations of anemia, because it forms erythrocytes, after dialysis, after chemotherapy. Its existence is intended for the treatment of severe conditions. In this situation, you cannot claim to have undergone treatment. For what? Anemia, of course. This is one of the diagnoses that require the introduction of this substance.

This is not a transmission error. It cannot be found in food because you accidentally ate it. But the staff does. It is practiced in several sports at several levels. When coaches have such initiatives to increase the productivity of one’s work. I can tell you this with certainty there is no doctor on earth to do such a thing. He is not a fool, but a bratwho does not know what this leads to.

Of course you can. This can cause polycythemia vera. A disease in which a large number of red blood cells are formed, which leads to the formation of blood clots in the arteries, brain and heart. There is no such doctor who would willingly prescribe such a thing. But the coaches are so as to increase the money and pocket of the athlete. You do it to make money.

When you come for your check-up, you will have to fill out some forms with the medications you have taken in the last few weeks.

If you invite a coach who wants to show the fruits of his labor, then this one can do something without the athlete’s knowledge. I don’t know what the situation is, but at this level and for this kind of money, you can afford a doctor with this problem. It’s not like Foresta Fălticeni, I don’t know what to say. You can’t go wrong at this level. Errors are excluded here,” – Pompiliu Popescu for DigiSport.

The only solution for Simona Halep: blame the coach

“This is the option that could be the best, the easiest. To cause the intervention of the coach, the one who wanted to increase his performance by stealing.

Then she may not plead guilty, but on the trainer’s line, shifting the problem to the trainer. She cannot say that there was no such substance in her body.

The substance works for at least three weeks as an anabolic agent, but it has an effect that is manifested in a large number of red blood cells. Benefit, just steal, earn at a certain time. That is why anti-doping in sports was created to protect the health of athletes.

In order to come out on top, she must shift the blame to the coach and not plead guilty. He has nothing more to do” – Pompiliu Popescu.

Simona Halep (31 years old) was temporarily suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after a positive test at the US Open 2022. At the Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows, our athlete was eliminated in the first round.

Simona Halep can be suspended from performing duties for up to four years

According to AP, representatives of the US Tennis Federation did not want to comment on this topic. The same with Patrick Muratoglu.

The cited source refers to the suspension that our athlete may receive after testing positive at the 2022 US Open.

AP reports that Halep (31) faces a four-year ban under existing anti-doping rules (for a drug like roxadustat). “Athletes can get their bans reduced, possibly up to three years, if they quickly admit to doping and accept the sanctions.”