Simona Halep has opened up on her shock and disappointment regarding her four year doping ban and has confirmed that she will appeal the verdict.
Former World No. 1 Halep was hit with a provisional suspension in October last year after she tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. In May, she was also charged with irregularities in her biological passport. Halep has not played competitively since then and has expressed her frustration on numerous occasions as the hearing was repeatedly delayed.
The Romanian player's name did provisionally appear on the entry list for this year's New York major, meaning she would have been able to compete if she had been found innocent, but it was removed after the verdict was delayed.
However, it is now clear that this would not have changed much as the International Tennis Integrity Agency gave the 31-year-old a four-year suspension for doping violations.
Halep responds to verdict
The two-time Grand Slam champion has responded to the verdict, making it clear that she will appeal and criticizing the delays in the case.
"Today, a tribunal under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme announced a tentative decision in my case.
"The last year has been the hardest match of my life and unfortunately my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis.
"I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.
"While I am grateful to finally have an outcome following numerous unfounded delays and a feeling of living in purgatory for over a year, I am both shocked and disappointed by their decision.
"I intend to appeal this decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question," she said.
The ITIA explained their decision was based on the following reasons:
"The presence and use of roxadustat as evidenced in Halep's urine sample, collected on 29 August 2022 at the US Open.
"Use of a prohibited substance or method during 2022, based on collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by the player as part of the ABP programme."
