(Provided by Tennis World USA)
Simona Halep says the ITIA is making her “live the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life” as the Romanian was absolutely shocked after being hit with an additional doping anti-doping charge. Since October, two-time Grand Slam champion Halep has been suspended after testing positive for anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat.
Since Day 1, Halep has been insisting that she is innocent and that she never knowingly took the prohibited substance. On Friday, Halep’s situation got even worse. “The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirms that Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has been charged with a further and separate breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), relating to irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP),” the ITIA said in a statement.
In her own statement, Halep suggested it is looking like the ITIA is on a mission to prove that she is guilty while she is 100% percent certain that she has always been a clean athlete.
Halep’s statement on an additional anti-doping charge
“Since October 7, when I got charged by the ITIA for a suspicion of doping, I have lived the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life.
Not only has my name been soiled in the worst possible way, but I am facing a constant determination from the ITIA for a reason that I cannot understand, to prove my guilt while I haven’t EVER even thought of taking any illicit substance.
I tried two times to have the opportunity to be judged by an Independent Tribunal and the ITIA has constantly found reasons to postpone. Now that we have clearly established that I have been victim of a contamination, they came up with a so-called not normal evolution of my blood.
Three world renowned experts that have studied my blood tests have been extremely clear that my blood is totally normal. feel helpless facing such harassment and a motivation on their behalf to prove me guilty of something I never did.
Once again, all my life I have been totally against any sort of cheating. It doesn’t align with my values. The only thing I hope for, at this point, is to have the possibility to finally access the independent and impartial judges in a Tribunal, that will give me the chance to prove my innocence.
I have full trust in justice and I look forward to finally being able to present my case at my hearing that is scheduled at the end of May, after several delays by the ITIA. The support of my loved ones, the tennis world and my fans have given me the courage to continue to practice every day and fight for the truth.
I cannot thank you more for that,” Halep said in a statement.
pic.twitter.com/kg8OzR3Ha2 — Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) May 19, 2023
After the latest ITIA decision, clearing the name will be even tougher for Halep.
