Judy Murray questions ITIA’s anti-doping policy as Simona Halep case serves as a benchmark judgement

Simona Halep will compete at the Miami Open after a year and six months away from Tennis.

Judy Murray questions ITIA’s anti-doping policy as Simona Halep case serves as a benchmark judgement

Simona Halep and Judy Murray

Judy Murray has questioned the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) anti-doping policy following the reduced ban of Simona Halep. Murray revealed that players’ careers have been ruined by the flawed ITIA anti-doping regulation.

Halep became an ITIA doping test victim after she tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat following her 2022 US Open defeat to Daria Snigur. The Romanian was handed a provisional suspension two months later before the ITIA condemned her to a four-year ban last August.

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However, after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) the 32-year-old was given a reduced sentence of nine months of which she had already spent a year and six months out of the sport.

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On X (formerly known as Twitter) a journalist shared links to his article, including questions regarding ITIA’s anti-doping regulation.

Judy Murray then reacted to the post, tweeting about a British player whose career suffered a huge setback after she was found guilty by the ITIA.

Murray wrote:

Have u spoken to Tara Moore? Almost 2 years since she tested positive in Bogotá for TWO substances regularly found in contaminated meat in Colombia. Cleared in December by an independent panel and appealed on ONE of the substances by ITIA. Madness.
Judy Murray wrote on X

Meanwhile, the player in question that Murray talked about is a British doubles player (now retired) with a career-high ranking of 77. Moore spent a year and seven months out of tennis before being cleared of doping charges by an independent panel in December, after consuming contaminated meat.

Simona Halep receives Miami Open wildcard

Simona Halep has received a wild card entry into the main draw of the Miami Open set to begin on March 17. The tennis star was formally cleared by CAS of intentional doping and is set to resume her career in earnest this month.

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (via Imago)

Halep wrote on her social media handle:

I’m thrilled to let you all know that I will be making my return to the WTA Tour in two weeks at the Miami Open! Thank you to the tournament for giving me this opportunity and I cannot wait to be back on the court and competing. See you all soon!
Simona Halep wrote

Halep, a two-time semifinalist in Miami, will be playing in her first tournament since August 2022. The Romanian will be hoping to cause an upset in the second biggest Masters event in the US.

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