Amid Simona Halep’s Doping Saga, Novak Djokovic’s Rebel Association Points Out Vital Stat That Shows Tennis’ Absurd State on Drug Testing

Simona Halep, former world no.1, has been slapped with doping charges by the International Tennis Integrity Agency(ITIA) yet again. This is now the second time she is facing accusations of doping. But all throughout the accusations, Halep has maintained her innocence very firmly and has rubbished all the allegations. Just days ahead of the French Open, she made a series of posts on social media to establish her innocence.

She has also found ample support from her fellow players and tennis coaches amidst the ongoing saga. Lately, the PTPA(Professional Tennis Players Association), which was founded by Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil and Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic. has chimed in with a stat that claims to bring to the fore the current anti-doping scenario in the world of tennis.

The latest stat that should pique the tennis community’s interest

The PTPA shared a stat on their Twitter account that caught the attention of the tennis community. In 2020 alone, only 2987 tests have been done in tennis, a monumental contrast when compared to other sports. It seems that the tweet takes aim at regulatory authorities like the ITIA.

Read more: Despite Getting Slapped With a Second Charge, 31-Year-Old Simona Halep Remains Defiant as She Awaits Justice in Doping Trail

The association added stats published by WADA(World Anti-Doping Agency) to support their claims. Among many other major sports, it was tennis where the number of drug tests conducted was relatively lesser. Moreover, the PTPA stated that the inconsistencies were high, and the timings for the test were far more infrequent. The ITIA hasn’t responded to the criticism as of yet.

“Players must have a fair anti-doping program that is built on transparency and consistency,” PTPA tweeted.

Even though Halep is mired in controversy, she is determined to get justice. After all, the Romanian tennis star has claimed that she has always been against any “sort of cheating”.

What is Halep’s mistake according to the ITIA?

The ITIA claimed Halep took Roxadustat in New York last year, a drug that is banned and stimulates the body to produce EPO, a hormone that aids with endurance. Halep has said that she has never intentionally taken the drug and it was a result of ‘contamination’. Next, the ITIA has accused her of having irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport. Ever since the allegation, a huge storm has erupted between her and the organization.

Halep has denied any sort of cheating from her side. She has said, “All my life I have been totally against any sort of cheating. It doesn’t align with my values”.  She has also said that the organization has been harassing her.

What is your opinion on the current scenario of drug testing in tennis? Let us know in the comments below.

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