Patrick Mouratoglou has defended Simona Halep following her four-year doping ban.

It was announced today that former World No. 1 Halep would be suspended from the sport for four years due to doping violations. The 31-year-old was hit with a provisional suspension last October after she tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open.

She was then charged with another doping violation in May due to irregularities in her biological passport. After the hearing was delayed multiple times, the tribunal was finally held - but it did not produce the result Halep had hoped for.

Halep has since responded to the verdict by saying that she will appeal and by expressing her shock and disappointment. While some have criticized her, others have defended the Romanian player. One of the most vocal of the latter group has been well-known coach Mouratoglou, who worked with Halep for several years.

"I cannot believe the decision that the ITIA has taken today in the case of Simona. I am extremely shocked and I have been during this whole year by the methods and the behavior of an organization that is supposed to treat players fairly and try to establish the truth," he wrote in a statement shared on social media.

The 53-year-old added that he knew Halep's integrity and had no doubt that she was innocent.

"I know Simona's integrity and I have no doubt that she has never taken any banned substance.

"I sat through the entire two days of hearing with her and I CANNOT believe that the tribunal has reached that decision based on the evidence and arguments that I heard.

"The process and the ITIA have been totally unfair to Simona and it is totally unacceptable.

"I hope that Simona will prevail at CAS which is the only tribunal that is not controlled by the ITIA.

"I hope that the WTA, ATP and PTPA will do their best to change a system that is destroying careers of innocent people," he continued.