Simona Halep takes a subtle dig at Serena Williams and other ‘haters’ following her controversial doping suspension by the ITIA

Simona Halep has been suspended for four years by ITIA.

Simona Halep takes a subtle dig at Serena Williams and other ‘haters’ following her controversial doping suspension by the ITIA

Simona Halep and Serena Williams with their 2019 Wimbledon trophies (Image via Marca)

Romanian tennis ace Simona Halep was struck with lightning as she was handed a four-year suspension by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) over doping. The 32-year-old was already serving a provisional suspension since October 2022, the first time her urine sample was found positive for Roxadustat. After the decision from ITIA, Halep received criticism from all corners including Serena Williams who took a shade at the Romanian. 

Serena shared a tweet “8 is a better number” taking aim at Halep to whom the American had lost at the 2019 Wimbledon finals and was denied an 8th title. While Williams faced flak from Halep fans, the Romanian did not say anything until Monday when Halep took an indirect dig at Williams. The 32-year-old claimed that some hate her just because she beat them. 

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Halep, while expressing shock at the decision and saying that she has no one else but herself to blame for this fiasco, took aim at Williams. “I think everyone has the right to judge me because the court decided that I am to blame. Someone told me that those players who hate me are because I beat them,” said Halep.

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Simona Halep claims she was judged on scenarios and not proofs

The Romanian tennis ace spoke to the media for the first time since the decision from the ITIA. Halel expressed complete shock while claiming that she was judged on scenarios rather than proofs. The 32-year-old also claimed that ITIA did not find anything bad in her blood but still slapped her with a four-year suspension.

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (Image via X)

“I could not believe that they suspended me for four years when we found the contamination and my blood was totally normal. They didn’t find anything bad in my blood. It’s crazy that they made this decision with everything [her legal team presented]. They judged me on scenarios. There is no proof. It’s just insane,” she claimed in an interview with Front Office Sports.

Halep has also said that she will appeal against the decision made by ITIA. While she might not get her suspension lifted entirely, the Romanian might get it reduced just like Maria Sharapova did it. The Russian had gotten her two-year suspension reduced to 15 months.

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