Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has slammed the tennis integrity physique, the International Tennis Integrity Agency, over its dealing with of her ongoing doping allegations.
In a press release posted to social media on Saturday morning, Halep stated she had “lived the worst nightmare I have ever gone through in my life” since being charged with doping.
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It comes amid further fees being laid on Halep in current days over “irregularities” in her athlete organic passport.
Already provisionally suspended since October 2022, Halep stated her “name (has) been soiled in the worst possible way”.
Halep insists that the anti-anaemia drug detected in her system, roxadustat, entered her physique through a contaminated complement and that she has proof to that impact, however that the ITIA have delayed the investigation.
“I tried two times to have the opportunity to be judged by an independent tribunal and the ITIA has constantly found reasons to postpone,” Halep stated.
“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 extremely normal.
“I 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 0f May, after several delays by the ITIA.”
On Friday, the ITIA stated that the two-time Grand Slam winner has been additional charged “relating to irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP)”.
It added that the “charge is separate and in addition to the existing roxadustat charge from August 2022 which triggered Ms. Halep’s original provisional suspension”.
The ABP program is a technique by which anti-doping organisations monitor varied blood parameters over time, to establish potential doping violations.
Nicole Sapstead, Senior Director for Anti-Doping on the ITIA, stated: “We understand that today’s announcement adds complexity to an already high-profile situation.
“It would not be inappropriate for us to comment on specifics until the conclusion of the process, but we will continue to engage with the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal and Ms. Halep’s representatives as expeditiously as possible.”
Halep stated after her optimistic take a look at final October that she would “fight until the end” to clear her identify, as she awaits a doping listening to scheduled for May 28.
“Knowingly, I have not taken any banned substance,” the Romanian star instructed tennismajors.com in an interview revealed final month.
“I am a big supporter of clean sports and have always been against doping. I had no clue at the beginning about where this substance came from.”
Halep had climbed again into the world’s high 10 earlier than she was suspended having dropped out of the highest 20 in 2020 following harm issues.
But the previous French Open and Wimbledon champion has tumbled to her present mark of thirtieth.
Roxadustat is a drug that stimulates the manufacturing of purple blood cells and is used within the remedy of sufferers with kidney issues.
Racquet Magazine editor Ben Rothenberg referred to as Halep’s fees “the most severe doping charges any #1 tennis player has faced.”
“Leagues more serious than Sharapova,” Rothenberg stated, referring to the fees that noticed Russian former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova banned from the game for 2 years between 2016 and 2018.
Portugese tennis journalist Jose Morgado stated it was “not looking good” for Halep.
Halep’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, who co-signed the assertion, stated that the “situation is going way past the limits of the acceptable”.
– with AFP
Source: www.news.com.au
