On Friday, May 19, former tennis world No.1, Simona Halep, was charged with a second doping offense by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after an analysis of her biological passport. Halep, who had received a doping suspension eight months earlier, expressed her frustration on social media, highlighting that her reputation has already been tarnished by the ITIA in the “worst possible way.”
Halep’s response to ITIA’s accusation
Reacting to the doping charge, Halep stated that she could not comprehend the agency’s determination to prove her guilt, even though she claims never to have considered taking a banned substance. She described the period since her first charge on October 7 as “the worst nightmare.” In a recent interview, the two-time Grand Slam champion opened up about the ITIA constantly postponing her hearing and causing her mental distress.
The former tennis champion challenges the additional charge
Simona Halep argued that the ITIA issued an additional charge just after she had proven the innocence of the first one with the help of expert testimonies. She stated that three world-renowned experts have confirmed the normality of her blood tests. The Romanian tennis player also declared feeling helpless facing the harassment from the ITIA and sought the opportunity to access impartial judges in her upcoming trial.
Simona Halep trusts justice and looks forward to the May 28 hearing
Despite the challenges, Halep declared her “full trust” in justice and looked forward to her scheduled hearing on May 28. She expressed her gratitude to the tennis world and her fans for supporting her throughout this difficult journey. Furthermore, Halep stressed that she has been “totally against any sort of cheating” throughout her career and is eager to prove her innocence in the upcoming trial.
