“8 is a better number!” Serena Williams allegedly throws ‘massive’ shade at Simona Halep over her 4-year doping suspension

Simona Halep appeals against her ban.

“8 is a better number!” Serena Williams allegedly throws ‘massive’ shade at Simona Halep over her 4-year doping suspension

Serena Williams and Simona Halep (Image via: IMAGO)

Former World No. 1, Simona Halep, was recently suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after she was accused of breaching two anti-doping rules. She has been provisionally suspended since October 2022, but she has denied the claims. On the social media platform X, American tennis sensation Serena Williams made a 5-word comment on the issue.

For context, Simona Halep was barred from playing at the US Open last year after the ITIA found the presence of roxadustat in her urine sample collected on August 29, 2022. They also alleged the use of a prohibited substance or method during 2022, based on the collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by Halep as part of the ABP program. The Romanian recently stated that she intends to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

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23-time Grand Slam title champion Serena Williams lost to the Romanian at the Wimbledon Finals back in 2019 with a score of 6-2, 6-2. After Halep was banned for the alleged use of the drug, Serena Williams made a post on X, stating, “8 is a better number”. Though no further context was provided, tennis fans knew at once what the implication behind the post was.

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Williams believes that she should be awarded her eighth Wimbledon title, the one that she lost to her Romanian opponent in 2019. Another Grand Slam title will take Serena’s total Slam tally to 24, equaling the likes of Margaret Court and, recently, Novak Djokovic. However, no official evidence has been uncovered yet to suggest that Halep was doped during Wimbledon in 2019.

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Simona Halep to appeal against her ban

Simona Halep
Simona Halep(Image via: Eurosport)

As for the presence of Roxadustat traces found in the 31-year-old’s samples, Halep claimed that she had taken a contaminated supplement. However, the tribunal concluded that the volume of the drug the player claimed to have ingested was way less than the concentration they found in the positive sample. Further, they upheld a “strong opinion” as a collective and accused the Romanian of “doping” after examining her biological passport.

Post the tribunal announced its decision, Halep stated, “The last year has been the hardest match of my life, and unfortunately, my fight continues. I have devoted my life to the beautiful game of tennis…I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.”

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