CNN
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Former world number 1 Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended from tennis after testing positive for a banned substance at this year’s US Open.
According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), Halep tested positive for Roxadustat, which is a banned substance listed on the 2022 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List.
The two-time Grand Slam champion has denied knowingly taking the banned substance.
“Today begins the toughest match of my life: a fight for the truth,” the 31-year-old said in social media statement Friday.
“I have been informed that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely small amount, which was the biggest shock of my life.
“Throughout my career, the idea of cheating has never crossed my mind once, because it goes totally against all the values I was brought up with. When faced with a situation so unfair, I feel completely confused and betrayed.
“I will fight to the end to prove that I never knowingly took a banned substance and I have faith that sooner or later the truth will come out.”
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– Source: CNN
Halep was notified of the violation on October 7 and exercised the right to request that the B sample be tested, which confirmed the A sample finding.
According to the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Roxadustat is in a class of drugs called HIF stabilizers.
“Athletes can use these products to increase their red blood cell count, which is a very effective doping technique that increases oxygen delivery to working muscles to increase endurance performance,” USADA said on its website.
The Romanian tennis player will not be allowed to participate or attend any tennis events organized by the governing bodies of the sport during his suspension.
“It’s not about titles or money. It’s about honor and the love affair I’ve developed with tennis over the past 25 years,” he said. she adds.
Halep nearly retired in 2021 but said she fell in love with tennis again this year.
She was knocked out of the first round of this year’s US Open in August, losing in three sets to world No. 124 Daria Snigur.
Halep won her first Grand Slam at Roland Garros in 2018 and won her second at Wimbledon in 2019.
