Simona Halep in deep trouble after second doping offence amid suspension
Halep was earlier tested positive for presence of Roxadustat drug in her body.
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Simona Halep (Image via Scroll.in)
Athletes are strongly cautioned against crossing a delicate boundary in sports known as doping charges. This boundary pertains to substances that should not be present in an athlete’s body prior to competing in any event. These substances, known for their potential to enhance performance, can provide an unfair advantage to those who consume them.
Former WTA No. 1 Simona Halep was charged with doping charges at the US Open last year. She came out with a positive test for Roxadustat, which is a banned substance. She has been suspended from the tour indefinitely since then. And now things have become worse for the Romanian.
Halep has now been further charged with a separate breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has confirmed that the Romanian has irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) which have resulted in the further charge. The ABP program was developed by the World Anti-Doping Agency.
It has been incorporated into the TADP by the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC), which is a method that helps the anti-doping organizations monitor blood level parameters. This can further help in finding any anti-doping rule violations. The additional charge came due to an Adverse passport finding. It was based on the assessment of Halep’s ABP Profile.
This assessment was done by an independent ABP expert panel. This charge is different from the one already on the Romanian. She was charged with a positive test for Roxadustat, which actually triggered her suspension from last year’s US Open.
New announcement adds more complexity to Simona Halep’s case
Nicole Sapstead, Senior Director for Anti-Doping at the ITIA, said: “We understand that today’s announcement adds complexity to an already high- profile situation. From the outset of this process – and indeed any other at the ITIA- we have remained committed to engaging with Ms. Halep in an empathetic, efficient, and timely manner. We do, of course, appreciate there is a great deal of media interest in these cases.”
He continued, “It would be inappropriate for us to comment on specifics until the conclusion of the process, but we will continue to engage with the Sport Resolutions independent tribunal and Ms. Halep’s representatives as expeditiously as possible.”
Simona Halep will get her chance to contest this charge. She may eventually be proven innocent. For the record, this is the heaviest doping charge any World No. 1 has ever faced.
This is the second media attractive instance of doping charges on the WTA in recent times. In January 2016, Maria Sharapova failed a drug test just before the Australian Open. She had meldonium in her body, which is a banned substance, according to WADA. Sharapova was then put on suspension in March 2016. She had said that she wanted to fill in the lack of magnesium in her body with the consumption of the drug. However, no one supported the innocence plea.
Players like Federer, Nadal, and Murray all condemned Sharapova and said she deserves the punishment. Sharapova was on the Tour in 2018 however, she looked far from the very best that she had lost in the ban. Fans would want players to be more role models. They would want them to stop indulging in any such activities. Even unintentionally. Hopefully, a change is seen soon.
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Manan Mehta
(215 Articles Published)