Simona Halep received a significant reduction in her prison term in a doping case (from 4 years to 9 months) and next week we will see her play at WTA Miami. Patrick Muratoglu, her former coach, told the Tennis Channel some lesser-known details about the situation in which the former world number one found herself.

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Patrick Muratoglu: “Symona Halep went through hell because of the history with doping”

The French coach gave details of the moment Simone received confirmation of a positive test taken during the 2022 US Open.

“It’s scary because you don’t know if you can determine what really happened.

In fact, when it started, I didn’t even know what was going on because you have no idea how that stuff could be in your urine.

And then you have to search and you have to prove where it comes from, otherwise you will receive the maximum penalty,” Muratoglu told Tennis Channel, as quoted by News.ro.

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In the continuation of his speech, the Frenchman gave details of the first days after the four-year ban that Simona received from the Sport Resolutions tribunal.

“It was terrible, it was scary. She didn’t know if she would ever be able to play again. He went through hell with what happened with the doping story,” Muratoglu explained.

At the end of his speech, Patrik Mouratoglou also talked about how he followed everything that happened to his former student step by step, until the positive decision of CAS: reducing the disqualification from 4 years to 9 months.

“Of course, I followed the situation day by day. I am so relieved for her that the truth has finally prevailed.

Having her back is also fantastic for women’s tennis. I can’t wait to see her play and I’m sure a lot of people are waiting for that moment too.”

We will remind, Simona Halep will return to official competitions on the occasion of the Miami Open. The tournament is part of the WTA 1000 category and will be held from March 19 to 31, 2024.

About the doping case of Simona Halep

• 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.

• TAS reduced Simona Halep’s sentence from 4 years to 9 months.

• On August 29, 2022, Simona Halep played her last official match on the world circuit. 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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