“We are doing everything we can”. The CEO of the Romanian Tennis Federation has given hope to Simona Halep to participate in the Olympic tournament in Paris. In an interview given to iAMsport.ro, George Cosa, president of the Romanian Tennis Federation talked about Simona’s possible participation with his national team in the Olympics.
“We have also started the steps, with the federation, with the Olympic Committee, with everyone. Simona can use this method. Considering that she also plays in Paris, that she was WTA No.1, that she won a Grand Slam tournament in Paris and that she went through a situation like that, she can definitely do it,” he said.
Cosa referring to the fact that there will be 59 sportswomen accepted directly and another 5 who could benefit from invitations. Halep is one of the athletes likely to obtain this invitation.
“If they told me: no, just ranking, participation in the Billie Jean King Cup and that’s it, it would be one thing.
But the fact that there is this loophole… we are doing everything we can for Simona,” he added. The former WTA number one received a four-year ban after testing positive for one of the substances prohibited by the regulation, Roxadustat.
Halep never changed her version and, in the end, the CAS expressed a different opinion from that of the ITIA and the independent tribunal established by Sport Risolutos, approving her memory and accepting the thesis according to which it was a unintentional contamination.
A decision that gives the Romanian champion the joy of being able to play tennis again. Her come back to the court occurred shortly after, in Miami, where however Simona was defeated in the first round by Paula Badosa. Behind this lost match, however, there was also a small injury to her shoulder, which will probably cause her to miss Romania’s match against Ukraine on 12-13 April at the Billie Jean King Cup.
A painful absence for the two-time Slam champion, who would have thus gained points for qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Playing in the Olympics is the dream of any athlete, including tennis players. Doing so, after the suspension for doping imposed by the International Agency for the Integrity of Tennis, would be an incredible satisfaction for Simona Halep.
Simona Halep talks about the moments before the comeback
“When I was on the plane, I told my mother that I was very nervous because I didn’t know what to expect from people.
When you go through such a difficult time, you don’t know how people will see you or treat you. But the first day was amazing, so the stress immediately went away. The love I received was even greater than what I had had before.” Simona, in an interview with the WTA, spoke about the state of mind and thoughts she had before her official return to the court at the Miami Open.
Halep, after having obtained a significant discount on her sentence at the Tas, is ready for a new beginning with coach Carlos Martinez. “I don’t have very clear ideas about what I didn’t do well and what I did wrong in the match against Paula Badosa (the 1st round of the Miami Open – ed.).
I feel like I played good tennis. First of all I need a coach to guide me a little, with Carlos we have established a trial period. I need to talk to him and he needs to see me to tell me where I am, because it is difficult to determine it on your own,” she said.
“Seeing that my rivals supported me and believed that I was clean gave me strength and positivity to continue fighting. A very important person told me that I shouldn’t hate tennis, because it wasn’t him who caused me that difficult phase,” analyzed Halep.
However, not all colleagues were happy with Simona’s come back. Caroline Wozniacki, at the press conference at the Miami Open, expressed her honest opinion on the Romanian’s case and on the invitation received from the organizers to immediately participate in the competition in Florida.
“I have always liked Simona, we have always had a good relationship but I have always been very frank about the doping topic and what I think about it. I want a clean and fair sport for everyone. This is not directly against Simona but, if someone he cheated on purpose, if someone tested positive for doping.
I understand that a tournament wants to have big stars but my personal belief is different, without wanting to hit anyone. I don’t think people should be given a wild card after something like that. If you want to go back after a mistake, I understand, but you should go back from the bottom.
This is my opinion. Simona’s situation has been dragging on for some time, her suspension was reduced but it was a reduction in sentence. However I only hope for a clean sport and that’s it, I want young people to have good role models to follow.
Tennis involves a lot of money, a lot of competitiveness and great opponents, so the fight must be fair,” said the Dane. Halep, of course, reply to these words. “Why did she say this? I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t dope, I didn’t cheat and the sentence proves that the positivity is due to contamination.
My parents have always taught me that sooner or later good prevails. from day one I believed one hundred percent in justice, hoping that the truth would come out. I knew I was clean and I didn’t do anything wrong,” told Halep.
