Simona Halep reveals her doping suspension being cut short was “bigger than Grand Slams, bigger than No. 1”

Simona Halep claimed that it felt she was like in a jail during her suspension period as she could not even go out to watch a match.

Simona Halep reveals her doping suspension being cut short was “bigger than Grand Slams, bigger than No. 1”

Simona Halep (Via Imago)

Romanian tennis ace Simona Halep returned to tennis action after her four-year doping ban was reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sports. The 32-year-old played at the Miami Open on her comeback. Although Halep suffered a first-round exit at the WTA 1000 tournament after losing to Paula Badosa, the two-time Grand Slam champion was happy to be back.

Halep was so delighted to be competing at the highest level once again that she went on to hail her doping suspension being cut short bigger than Grand Slam title wins and her World No. 1 ranking. Halep attested that her getting the ban reduced felt like saving integrity.

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The Romanian reaffirmed that she never cheated in her life, even during her childhood playing days. Halep then went on to say that she has always been against cheating in the sport and has maintained that vision ever since.

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Yes, 100%. It was bigger than Grand Slams, bigger than No. 1. It was about integrity, and it was about myself, my person. I have always been honest and correct to tennis, to this sport. Even when I was a kid, I was not cheating with, you know, when you run around the court, I never cheated. Always, if I didn't do, I said to the coach. It was just my vision of life. It was like that.
Simona Halep said about getting her doping ban reduced to We Are Tennis.

Notably, Halep was handed a four-year suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) over the presence of roxadustat, a prohibited substance in her blood sample. However, the Romanian appealed to CAS and got the ban reduced to nine months, as it was unintentional.

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Simona Halep felt like being in jail while serving suspension’

Simona Halep hailed her ban reduction as her biggest win because of the feeling she had to endure while serving the suspension. Halep recalled how she felt like being in jail where she was not even allowed to go out to watch a match.

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (Image via Imago)

Halep also shared an anecdote saying that she was informed that she could not go out to watch Jannik Sinner in action. However, after the ban was reduced, and it was over, she saw the light and felt free.

It was amazing. It was like a freedom. You know, I've never been in jail, and hopefully I'll never be, but they say, many people told me it looks like you are in jail. I could not go watch a tennis match. This was the most difficult thing. So, they told me, I wanted to go to Paris Bercy to see Sinner, and I was not able...When I got the freedom, it was, like, a relief, and the light came back.
Simona Halep said while describing how it felt to come back.

Now that she is back, Halep plans to go back to her best level and enter into the top 10 in WTA rankings. However, she is aware of the challenges and, with persistent injuries, the 2019 Wimbledon champion is skeptical about regaining her old self. Halep still dreams of being one of the best in the world.

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