Simona Halep feels it’s ‘unfair’ that Jannik Sinner’s doping case was “judged in completely different way”

Simona Help, who faced a nine-month ban following doping charges, questioned the ITIA why Jannik Sinner's case was handled quickly.

Simona Halep feels it’s ‘unfair’ that Jannik Sinner’s doping case was “judged in completely different way”

Jannik Sinner and Simona Halep (Images via X, Tennishead)

Simona Halep knows how it feels when a player who unknowingly used a banned drug, has to go through a lot of difficulties before being proven innocent. She was the victim of accidental contamination as roxadustat entered her system following which she was slapped with a four-year ban before her appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced it to nine months. 

So when Jannik Sinner was acquitted of the doping charges within five months, the tennis community censured the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for quickly resolving Sinner’s case, accusing the organization of ‘double standards’ and ‘unfair’ treatment. The Italian was provisionally suspended after the anabolic steroid, clostebol, was found in his body twice in March this year. 

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Sinner responded to it quickly and appealed to an independent tribunal which cleared him of all charges in August. Halep thinks it’s not fair that she had to endure months of hardships and that her case was handled differently. She wants the ITIA to ignore the players’ ranks and treat them equally. 

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I think it is clear that it was judged in a completely different way to my case. I suffered a lot during my whole process and I don't think it was fair that I was not allowed to compete for so long. I believe that all athletes should have the same judgment and be treated the same, regardless of whether they are number 1 or number 200. All I want is to leave that stage of my life behind.
Simona Halep said at an event (via Antena Sport)

Following her nine-month suspension, Halep returned to court in the 2024 Miami Open where she lost in the first round to Paula Badosa. She next played at the Trophee Clarins but retired during her first-round match against McCartney Kessler due to a knee injury. The US Open is underway, but she is not participating in it as she is still recovering from the injury. 

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Jannik Sinner reaches fourth round of US Open 

Jannik Sinner, although he is surrounded by doping controversy, has made it to the fourth round of the US Open after an easy win over Christopher O’Connell in straight sets. Sinner started his run at Flushing Meadows with a four-set win over Mackenzie McDonald, before breezing past Alex Michelsen in the second round. 

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X)

Sinner is now the heavy favorite to win the US Open after the elimination of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. The Paris Olympic gold and silver medalists lost in the third and second rounds respectively. If Sinner ends the US Open as the champion, it will be his second major title of his career, having won the Australian Open this year. 

Overall, Sinner has lifted five titles this season. He also arrived in New York following a successful campaign at the Cincinnati Masters. 

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