Romanian tennis player Simona Halep published a post before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) decision on her case. On September 12, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) suspended the former world number one for four years for an anti-doping rule violation, with the punishment lasting until October 6, 2026. The substance roxadustat was detected in the player’s doping sample taken at the end in 2022.
“The nightmare I lived in for a year and a half is over. I had the opportunity to defend myself at the CAS and show that I have never taken doping. I’ve said that since the first day I was charged. Now I await the decision with my head held high and I want to thank you, my fans, players, former tennis players, legends of the sport, my sponsors and everyone else for your incredible support. I want to thank you for your unconditional trust. This support meant everything to me and gave me the strength to continue to fight every day for the truth. I will share further updates on the case as soon as I receive them. I wish you all the best. Good and truth always win”, wrote Simona Halep on her social networks.
Following the ITIA decision, Simona Halep sued the nutritional supplement manufacturer. On February 17, it became known that the Romanian tennis player wants compensation of more than 10 million dollars from “Quantum Nutrition”. The athlete believes the banned substance may have entered her body through a supplement she took in 2022, while roxadustat was not listed on the label.
Simona Halep has been ranked world number one in singles twice between 2017 and 2019, for a total of 64 weeks, which ranks twelfth in the history of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. Halep was the year-end No 1 in 2017 and 2018. She has won two Grand Slam singles titles: the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
