Simona Halep’s tennis career is said to be in danger after being hit with another doping charge. The International Tennis Integrity Agency has charged her with alleged cheating of her biological passport, an electronic system that monitors athletes’ blood. This is primarily used to detect blood doping. Halep was charged with a second separate doping charge in August 2022, involving the drug roxadustat. She has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that her sample was found to be contaminated. She stated she has tried to get an independent trial to prove her innocence, but the ITIA has avoided this. She is scheduled to have a hearing at the end of May.
Halep is a two-time Grand Slam champion and a 2018 French Open winner. She last played at Wimbledon in 2019 and at the US Open in 2022, where she won the first-round qualifier. Her last Grand Slam tournament was at Wimbledon in 2022, where she appeared at the semifinals and lost to the eventual champion.
Halep’s statement accuses the ITIA of harassment and stated that she is a victim of pollution. Three specialists studied her blood work and found it to be normal. She urged for the possibility of an independent and impartial judge to prove her innocence. She has full faith in justice and appreciates the support of her loved ones, the tennis world, and her fans.