Serena Williams likes "cheating" tweets after news of Halep's doping ban
WTAWednesday, 13 September 2023 at 07:30
Legendary tennis star Serena Williams liked a cheating tweet
after the former world number one Simona Halep received a ban for violating
doping rules.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) handed the Romanian
tennis star a four-year ban after failing a dope test last year.
Williams, who is termed as one of the greatest players in
the history of women’s singles tennis in the Open era having won as many as 23
Grand Slams in her illustrious career, liked a tweet of a user who called
out Halep for ‘cheating’.
However, she ended up un-liking the post but it was too late
as some users went on to take a screenshot.
The 31-year-old was provisionally suspended since September
2022 after testing positive for blood-booster Roxadustat.
“The first [charge] related to an Adverse Analytical Finding
(AAF) for the prohibited substance roxadustat at the US Open in 2022, carried
out through regular urine testing during competition,” said ITIA in a statement
on Tuesday.
“The tribunal accepted Halep’s argument that they had taken
a contaminated supplement, but determined the volume the player ingested could
not have resulted in the concentration of roxadustat found in the positive
sample. The second charge related to irregularities in Halep’s Athlete
Biological Passport (ABP).”
The announcement came at a time when Halep was hoping to
finally get her suspension lifted after staying on the sidelines for 12 months.
The former world number has an impressive record while
playing at the highest level, having won as many as two Grand Slam titles in
her career.
The first major title victory for the Constanța-born in the French
Open in 2018 where she defeated America’s Sloane Stephens in the final with a
score of 3–6, 6–4, 6–1.
A year later, Halep went on to win the Wimbledon title after
beating Serena in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2.
Azeem Siddiqui is a seasoned sports journalist and data analyst with a strong background in both digital media and live sports production.
He began his journalism career working with partners of The New York Times and has since contributed to several leading international sports publications, including Fox Sports Asia, Calciomercato, and GiveMeSport. Since 2023, Azeem has been part of the TennisUpToDate team, where he has played a key role in sustaining the platform’s growth and ensuring tennis fans receive timely and reliable coverage of the sport’s biggest stories.
In addition to his editorial work, Azeem has extensive experience as a data analyst in live sports broadcasting—particularly in cricket—where he combines analytical precision with creative storytelling. He has collaborated with multiple production companies and cricket boards worldwide, delivering real-time insights and data-driven narratives during live match coverage.
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