Banned for Doping, Simona Halep Finds a Ray of Hope After Finding Critical Evidence to Appeal for Emergency Hearing

Simona Halep gave her best this year to reclaim the hold she once had over the sport. She, in a way, succeeded, and keeping in mind the advancements of this season, fans estimated better runs in 2023 from her. Though an issue came unannounced and crushed her plans. Halep tested positive for a prohibited drug and received a ban. 

Since then, she has been endlessly looking for the cause, and recently her efforts paid off. Halep discovered the medicine that caused the same and has called for an immediate hearing with ITAI to dissolve the matter.

A ray of hope for Simona Halep 

The former World no.1’s blood samples from the US Open revealed traces of the banned drug Roxadustat. She claimed that she had not taken anything willingly and, with the majority of the tennis fraternity siding with her, it seemed quite out of character. Halep started her hunt and now finally has her hands on the culprit. It’s one of her supplements that caused the ruckus. 

 An analysis by the Antidopage Francais Laboratory cleared the clouds. The supplements she took at that time had “accidental sources of compounds that exceed the purity criteria of the substances listed.”

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Therefore, she requested a meeting with ITAI to clear her name and get rid of the four-year ban. Further, speaking of the drug Roxadustat, is fundamentally used to treat anemia. However, it also has the properties of enhancing an athlete’s endurance, which is why its usage is punishable.

Why did Halep end her season early?

The 2 times Grand Slam champion packed the tennis year after incurring an opening-round defeat in the US Open. She walked out of the circuit and assured her fans of her participation in the coming season. Before the entire doping issue unfolded, Halep’s plan was to a break and undergo nose surgery to address her breathing difficulties.

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The Romanian finally acted on her doctor’s advice to resolve the problem that has pestered her for years and was only getting worse. She chose this time of the year because otherwise, she would not have been able to squeeze out a three months gap from WTA’s schedule. Further, along with that, she also fixed the aesthetics of her nose. Halep went for a plastic procedure on her nose.