Patrick Mouratoglou's Academy continues to be under the spotlight as Simona Halep continues to battle to protest her innocence and return to tennis and a compatriot of the former World No.1 claims that athletes at the academy are given substances from an early age.
18-year-old Maria Sara Popa spoke to As.ro and said that due to minimal testing in the juniors, young stars are given substances to take until they turn 17 years old and have to sign waivers in order to take said substances. Speaking from experience, she said she trained at the Academy when she was 12 and was scared when being asked to sign to take a substance.
"I went when I was 12 years old. I played at the Mouratoglou Academy. It is true, from a young age, athletes are given some substances. In juniors, you are not controlled by Anti-doping. They let you grow up a little more, to turn 17, and from then on, the checks start more intensively," Popa claimed.
"Players and parents must agree. They are given a sheet and must sign to agree to take that substance. The first time I was scared, I really didn't know what was happening," she said.
Also she claimed that those who take the substances know what they are doing and also how to eliminate them from subsequent tests.
"There are athletes who take those substances, only they don't get caught because they know exactly when to eliminate the substance and they know exactly when to take them. I, for example, was tested weekly and never took. But I can't put my hand in the fire for the other athletes," Simona Halep's compatriot added.
"Supplements are different from the substances that the physical trainers and doctors at the Academies give to the athletes. Supplements are exactly the daily pills that every person can take," she continued.
Simona Halep says the her appeal gave her the chance to defend her innocence, and she's confident the truth will come out: "This hearing provided me with the opportunity to present my position and defend my innocence. My confidence in the prevalence of the truth remains intact.…
