“It is unfair!” Simona Halep begs for mercy by demanding a ‘fair’ hearing over her dope suspension

Due to the delay in the hearing, Simona Halep has already missed out on a lot in the 2023 calendar year.

“It is unfair!” Simona Halep begs for mercy by demanding a ‘fair’ hearing over her dope suspension

Image Credit: Instagram Simona Halep

Simona Halep released an emotional video this Thursday of herself on her Twitter. Through the video, she addressed her fans and the general public about the unfair delays and hearing cancelations made by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in her doping case. Simona Halep was provisionally suspended from playing professional tennis in October 2022 when she tested positive for the banned substance Roxadustat.

While she was ready with her evidence back in December 2022, the ITF denied the hearing. She feels the ITF is delaying her case unfairly. Despite her having proof of no banned substance, she is unable to play as the hearing has not happened. “I don’t ask for special treatment. I’m just asking to be judged. How long will it take?,” said a very disconsolate-looking Halep.

YouTube video

Due to the delay in the hearing, Simona Halep has already missed out on a lot in the 2023 calendar year. Now her next hearing is on 28th May and it seems like that hearing might also be canceled by the ITF. “The next step is a hearing at the end of May, May 28th, but it’s very fragile because the ITF said they could cancel it too,” added a distraught erstwhile world no. 1. A spokesman for the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which oversees the sport’s anti-doping program, has said that the process will be conducted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code.

FS Video

In an interview with the Tennis Majors, the Romanian said that she needed to reach out to her fans and the public in general. This is a travesty to the system followed by the ITF and anti-doping code followed by the tennis federation. Halep has been denied a hearing on two occasions this year. The hearing on 28th February was canceled as the ITF requested more time to do additional testing. This was moved to 24th March, but that was canceled too.

A provisional suspension usually means an expedited hearing, but in Simona’s case, it has been the opposite. The whole situation has been tough for the player. Firstly, she consumed the banned substance unknowingly in small amounts through her diet supplements.

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Support has poured from all corners for Simona Halep

Support has poured from all corners for Simona Halep
Image Credit: Reddit

Her coach Patrick Mouratoglou, who Simona Halep recently hired in Sept 2022, also took to Twitter to repost her interview. He has asked for a quicker resolution to the ban, which Simona is entitled to, as this was a provisional ban.

The tennis world is quietly upset about the injustice dished out to Simona. Though now is the right time for more players to voice Simona’s case to the ITF. A great tennis player is not able to play due to the broken legal system. The French Open and Wimbledon champion is missed thoroughly by her fans. Hope Simona Halep gets to play if not the clay season, then her favorite grass season this year.

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