(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Coach Patrick Mouratoglou unloaded on the ITIA following the latest Simona Halep doping case developments, accusing the ITIA of “continuing this incredible campaign of harassment of Simona.” On Wednesday night, Halep took to Twitter to announce that her hearing in front of an independent judge scheduled for the end of May was postponed.
Halep, who tested positive for Roxadustat in October and was hit with a second anti-doping charge over “irregularities” in her biological passport last week, has now had three hearings in front of an independent judge postponed.
Halep feels the ITIA is “denying” her rights to plead her case in front of an independent judge and suggested in the latest statement that it was very negatively impacting her mental health. “The @ITFTennis through their ITIA are continuing their incredible campaign of harassment of Simona,” Mouratoglou tweeted.
The @ITFTennis through their ITIA are continuing their incredible campaign of harassment of Simona. https://t.co/hiHZG1RzIo — Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) May 24, 2023
Mouratoglou sends support to Halep
In her latest statement, Halep suggested she is feeling “disrespected” and that the entire situation is taking a toll on her mental health.
“Once again, tonight, I am devastated. The ITF (ITIA) has once again, for the third time postponed my hearing one month later! I am waiting to be judged since last October. In December, I have finally been able, thanks to experts, to show that the lot of the supplement I was using had been contaminated, which caused the positive control.
I have asked, as the rules of the anti-doping state it, for a quick hearing: this is my right, it is written in the rules! Unfortunately, the ITF (ITIA) has postponed my hearing three times. Denying me the right to be judged by an Independent Tribunal.
– Not allowing me to participate into any tournament for 8 months. Now I know that I will have missed the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Not to mention that I will have lost all my points and my ranking. Not only they are killing my reputation, but also me as a professional player, and I don’t even talk about the consequences on my mental health.
This disrespect of the rules by the ITF (ITIA) regarding the fast hearing I am entitled to have, is so disrespectful to me that I have no more words,” Halep said in a statement.
