Google News Simona Halep's career is threatened, but she has the strength to fight back
by LORENZO CIOTTI | VIEW 5597
Simona Halep's career is threatened, but she has the strength to fight back. It all started after the US Open. The Grand Slam champion and former world number one tested positive for Roxadustat, a banned substance for athletes, and the ITIA reacted by suspending the tennis player from the circuit at the end of last year.
The Romanian had responded to these accusations with a statement, while her competitive activity was interrupted: "Today the hardest match of my life begins: the battle for the truth. It's the biggest shock of my life. Throughout my career, the idea of cheating has never once crossed my mind, because it totally goes against all the values I was brought up with.
Faced with such an unfair situation, I feel completely confused and betrayed. I will fight to the end to prove that I have never knowingly taken any prohibited substance and I have hope that sooner or later the truth will come out." This, however, was only the beginning.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirms that Simona Halep has been accused of another violation, relating to some irregularities found in the Romanian athlete's biological passport.
Simona Halep's career is threatened, but she has the strength to fight back
Simona Halep's first reaction was to defend herself against these new allegations, but now she has gone on the attack.
In particular, the accusation by the Wimbledon and Roland Garros champion against the ITIA is that of delaying the hearing. The career of the very strong Romanian tennis player is at risk. The doping ban, added to this new accusation, can give a blow to the morale of the players.
It will be necessary to understand how this second accusation will evolve, before being able to speak of a possible her as a back. But there is one thing to say. Simona is a fighter, a super star, who has managed to overcome moments of great difficulty.
Like when she failed to win a Grand Slam title: many decisive defeats, with many insiders wondering about her mental ability. There many other colleagues of hers would no longer be able to recover. Simona did it. Winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
I emphasize: the Roland Garros and Wimbleon, the two most important tournaments in the history of tennis. In a situation like this, only Simona Halep will be able to recover.
Simona talks about ITIA
“Once again I am extremely shocked and disappointed by ITIA's attitude.
While ITIA, through her representative, Nicole Sapstead, publicly stated 3 days ago that ITIA: is committed to engaging Ms. Halep in an empathetic, efficient and timely manner. At the same time, they officially asked the court to delay my hearing for the third time.
ITIA publicly declares one thing while privately it does another. I have repeatedly requested my hearing and the ITIA has repeatedly tried to delay it. When will it stop? I repeat the question. I'm entitled to a speedy hearing. To do so is against my right."
