“ITIA didn’t look for truth,” Simona Halep gets the backing of coach Patrick Mouratoglou after being handed with a 4-year suspension for doping

Simona Halep will fight ITIA on her 4-year ban. 

“ITIA didn’t look for truth,” Simona Halep gets the backing of coach Patrick Mouratoglou after being handed with a 4-year suspension for doping

Simona Halep and Patrick Mourataglou (Image via: IMAGO)

Two-time Grand Slam winner Simona Halep was accused of doping by the International Tennis Integrity Agency last year and was not allowed to play at the 2022 US Open. On Tuesday, the association announced its decision to impose a four-year ban on the player. ITIA’s latest move has upset many tennis fans. Recently, the 31-year-old’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, described himself as being “extremely shocked” by the organization’s decision.

The Romanian has been banned after the ITIA claimed that she breached not one but two of the anti-doping rules. Last year, in August, the organization claimed to have found traces of roxadustat in Halep’s samples. 

YouTube video

They also alleged later that she used a prohibited substance or method during 2022, based on the collection and analysis of 51 blood samples provided by her as part of the ABP program. In response, Halep said that she intends to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

FS Video

The former World No.1’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou released a statement on social media, expressing his support for Halep. Mouratoglou wrote, “I cannot believe the decision that the ITIA has taken in the case of Simona today”. He further stated that he was taken aback by the methods and the behavior of “an organization that is supposed to treat the players fairly and try to establish the truth”.

Mouratoglou also wrote that he did not doubt Halep’s integrity and was sure that she never took any banned substances. He accused the ITIA and the route taken to impose a ban on Halep of being totally unacceptable and unfair to her. “I hope that Simona will prevail at CAS, which is the only tribunal that is not controlled by the ITIA,” he added. 

He concluded his statement online with the fact that he hoped the WTA, ATP, and PTPA would invest in changing “a system that is destroying the careers of innocent people”.

Related: Simona Halep’s 4-year suspension enrages fans against ITIA over dubious decision

Serena Williams throws shade on Simona Halep

Simona Halep, Serena Williams
Simona Halep, Serena Williams(Image via: USTA)

Simona Halep beat American tennis sensation Serena Williams in the finals at Wimbledon in 2019 to win her second Major. Serena, who was last seen at the 2022 US Open, recently commented on the situation. The 23-time Grand Slam title winner shared a post soon stating, “8 is a better number”.

Serena believes that she should be the worthy owner of the title she lost to Halep. This will help the American take her Wimbledon Majors count to 8. Also, this would imply that Williams’ Grand Slam title count will increase to 24 to equal the likes of Margaret Court and, recently, Novak Djokovic.

In case you missed: