Ille Nastase fires shots against ‘LIAR’ Patrick Mouratoglou for ruining Simona Halep’s career amid her ongoing doping case

The 64-time title winner on the ATP Tour bashed the Frenchman for ruining Halep's career and not taking any responsibility for it.

Ille Nastase fires shots against ‘LIAR’ Patrick Mouratoglou for ruining Simona Halep’s career amid her ongoing doping case

Ilie Nastase, Patrick Mouratoglou and Simona Halep (images via IMAGO)

Former World No. 1 Ilie Nastase has come out in support of compatriot Simona Halep amid her ongoing trial at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS). Halep had appealed, seeking the overturn of her four-year suspension for doping.

She was found to have used Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open, as per her test results. Pleading her innocence, then the World No. 7 refused to accept the charges brought against her. Based on the medical results, she was declared guilty and suspended from the sport for four years.

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Amid all this, the blame game began between Halep’s camp. She was being coached by Serena Williams‘ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. The Frenchman and his academy were accused of mixing up the nutrients, which led to Halep taking the drug unknowingly. 

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After her initial suspension from tennis in 2022, she cut ties with Mouratoglou. Since then, in multiple statements, she has criticized the French coach for ruining her career and breaking her trust. She was also subjected to criticism by a faction of fans and mocked by her colleagues, like Williams herself. 

As Halep currently awaits the final verdict by the CAS, which could potentially revive or end her career, Nastase bashed Mouratoglou for not taking responsibility. While the 53-year-old later publicly took responsibility, the 1973 French Open winner felt he was too late, as Halep is now facing the consequences.

He can lie, he should have admitted from the beginning Well, that's ridiculous, it's been a year. He's been doing this thing, I don't understand why he didn't do it when he should have, it's too late now, in my opinion, why didn't he come forward when it happened. I don't know if things were different, but after a year to come and say that it's your fault.
Said Nastase speaking to Orange Sport.

When Ille Nastase stated that Mouratoglou has ‘been doing this thing’, he might have also inferred that he had been doing the same with Serena Williams. Williams claimed to feeling “pushed out” during the course of her over-compensated doping tests in 2018. However, the fact that so many fingers now point at the French coach, shows that he might have done it willingly and that it is a dangerous scenario to consider. If that’s the case, Mouratoglou should not be allowed to coach young players to begin with.

It's not very good, I don't know, not for him, not for anyone. He may be lying, if he came out at the beginning and said, yes, by mistake, it's my fault, it was a job, but now you say after a year that you are guilty, how does this come about, it's been a year, I don't understand.
Added the Romanian tennis icon.

Simona Halep files a lawsuit against the Canadian nutritional supplement company

Halep was in the city of Lausanne last week for her case hearing. The proceedings were held over three days, but she was not allowed to make any public comments about the case in the meantime. 

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (Image via CNN)

Following the conclusion of the hearing, the two-time singles Major winner looked positive about landing a verdict in her favor. But no official announcement has been made so far. As per the initial court statement before the hearing, there is no specified date of verdict in the case.

Meanwhile, the 32-year-old has filed a lawsuit against Quantum Nutrition, the Canada-based company that provided the supplement to the player. As per Halep, the company’s product led to the presence of roxadustat in her sample.

She has demanded USD 10 million in damages, as she is at risk of a four-year ban. The company has, however, denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Their previous statement from October 2023 was rather directed at the player, accusing her of trying to find a scapegoat in her ongoing trial. 

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