Simona Halep has been charged with a second doping violation. Irregularities were found in her biological passport with the Romanian former number 1 in the world, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced.
Halep has not played since the end of August last year, when she participated in the US Open. The 31-year-old tennis star was provisionally suspended in October. According to the ITIA, the banned substance Roxadustat was found on her during the US Open.
Denial
The tennis star has denied knowingly using a banned substance. She says she has evidence that traces of the banned substance would have entered her body through the use of a licensed supplement that was contaminated.
“We understand that today’s announcement has added complexity to an already high-profile case,” said Nicole Sapstead of the ITIA. “It would be inappropriate for us to comment before there is a conclusion in the process.”
Halep grumbled last month that the hearing regarding her alleged doping use had been postponed. She wants it to happen quickly. The Romanian won Roland Garros in 2018 and was the best at Wimbledon a year later.
