Simona Halep was recently suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. She was tested during the US Open and the results turned out to be a shocker for the tennis world.
The Romanian star had recently ended her season after undergoing nose surgery. The provisional ban will now mean that fans will have to wait a while before they could see the 31-year-old in action once again. Halep posted a statement on Twitter where she clarified she has taken none banned substance intentionally. She also wrote in the statement that she will fight till the end and hoped that the truth will come out, eventually.
The news has been received with mixed reactions from the fans. While some have already given their verdict on Halep, others will wait until the investigation process runs its course.
Tennis authorities will handle Halep’s case, and the World Anti-Doping Agency in an appeal to the Court of Arbitration can challenge any ruling for Sport.
The current world No. 9 tested positive for roxadustat. Halep’s former coach Darren Cahill has come out to support her. The Australian coach has worked with Halep in two different spells (2016-2018 and 2019-2021).
Darren Cahill’s statement on Instagram
Darren Cahill posted a picture of himself and Halep on his Instagram handle. In the caption, he gave his opinion on the most talked-about topic in tennis at the moment.
Darren Cahill wrote in the caption that he had worked with Halep for six years and ruled out any chance of the Romanian tennis pro knowingly taking a banned substance.
“Even though I’m no longer working with Simona, I’d like to speak clearly to the person I know and the athlete that I worked with for 6 years.
First, and there is NO chance Simona knowingly or purposely took any substance on the banned list. None. Zero.”
Cahill also revealed how Halep was very concerned about the legality of what she was consuming. She used to make sure that any supplement she took was completely within the rules.
“She is an athlete that stressed about anything prescribed to her by a medical professional (which was rarely), or about any supplement that she used or considered. Simona wore out the words ‘please double check this, triple check this to make sure it’s legal, safe and permitted. If you are not sure, I’m not taking it.’
We both believe in the ITIA testing program and would often discuss the number of times she was tested, both at tournaments and randomly. She did it without complaint, with the reassurance of knowing other athletes were being tested just as frequently. Competing against clean athletes was important to her. It’s important to everyone and while the system is not perfect, it works.”
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