Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has vowed to “fight until the end” and clear her title after a failed doping take a look at.
The former Wimbledon champion mentioned the concept of dishonest “never even crossed my mind once” and that she feels “completely confused and betrayed”.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency introduced on Friday the world quantity 9 examined optimistic for the blood-boosting drug Roxadustat on the US Open.
“Simona Halep, a 31-year-old Romanian tennis player, has been provisionally suspended under Article 7.12.1 of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP),” the physique mentioned in a press release.
Taking to social media after the announcement, Halep mentioned: “Today begins the toughest match of my life: a combat for the reality.
“I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which came as the biggest shock of my life.
“Throughout my complete profession, the concept of dishonest by no means even crossed my thoughts as soon as, as it’s completely towards all of the values I’ve been educated with.”
She is the highest-profile tennis participant to fail a medication take a look at since Maria Sharapova six years in the past.
Halep continued: “Facing such an unfair state of affairs, I really feel fully confused and betrayed. I’ll combat till the top to show that I by no means knowingly took any prohibited substance and I’ve religion that, eventually, the reality will come out.
“It’s not about the titles or money. It’s about honour, and the love story I have developed with the game of tennis over the last 25 years.”
Roxadustat can enhance manufacturing of crimson blood cells – which helps athletes’ endurance.
Source: information.sky.com”