Halep's hopes of playing Australian Open dead in the water compared to Verdasco due to loophole

Simona Halep won't be able to play at the Australian Open but fellow suspended player Fernando Verdasco will due to a rule loophole.

Both Halep and Verdasco are currently suspended from tennis due to doping. Halep requested an emergency hearing after being able to understand how the banned substance entered her body as she wanted a wild card entry into the Australian Open. However, the rules state that Halep can't enter any event while provisionally suspended.

It would only be logical that the same applies to Verdasco but it's not the case because he was able to enter the event's qualifiers despite being banned. It's thanks to a rule which allows ATP players something WTA players can't. It's both lucky and controversial showing a double standard in tennis.