Romanian tennis player Simona Halep said her career will be over if her appeal against a four-year doping ban fails.
In September this year, the 32-year-old former Wimbledon and Roland Garros tennis champion was banned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for four years for two separate anti-doping violations. The ban came into effect in October after she tested positive for the banned blood stimulant roxadustat in her sample at last year’s US Open.
Simona Halep said that she does not accept the sanction and will appeal it to the highest instance in the sport – the Court of Arbitration (CAS) in Lausanne. The CAS arbitrators themselves stated on Tuesday that the hearing of the case is scheduled for February 7-9, 2024.
Asked by journalists whether a possible unsuccessful appeal would mean the end of her career, she said: “Yes, because four years is a long time, at least for my age. And for an athlete who has been doing the same thing for a long time 25 years old, has dedicated his life to tennis, such a break would be catastrophic. I can’t imagine how it will be and how I will cope with four years of no competition”, said Simona Halep.
“This will probably be the end of my career. And to be punished for something for which I am not guilty and I did not do it, is even worse and a real disaster”, said also the Romanian tennis player.
Simona Halep added that she hopes to play in the Paris Olympics if the appeal goes well for her. “I know I don’t have much chance of that, but Paris is my dream city. I myself dream of the Olympics. I won in Paris Roland Garros when I was much younger and it will be amazing to be back on the court in the French capital, despite everything. Because that’s where I belong. I want it and I hope to play again, said the former leader in the WTA world ranking”, added she.
