Simona Halep’s ex-coach calls out the WTA and ITF over no-concern for its players as the Romanian remains suspended without any hearing in her doping case

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep tested positive for the banned substance Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. The former world number 1 has been provisionally suspended since October 2022 and denies having knowingly consumed the substance. Speaking in her defense to Guardian Halep had said that the results, which were collated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, showed “extremely low” levels of the substance in her system.

Halep withdrew from the ongoing US Open as her doping suspension remained intact. The Romanian has faced another setback as the announcement of the decision on the case has been delayed. Talking about the new development, Halep’s ex-coach calling out the tennis authorities said, “Another delay. The details of this case will eventually come to light but regardless of the outcome, this process has been handled appallingly by the ITF & ITIA. Zero care or concern for the athlete or her well-being with this case dragging on for nearly 12-months and still no judgement or resolution.”

“I respect our testing program and a fair process but this has been anything but fair. Simona deserves the right to get on with her career and/or her life. At the moment she can do neither. No player should ever have to go through a process of delays like this again. The WTA, the board and the player council need to do better to ensure the players have some protection and rights to a quicker resolution. At the moment, they have none,” the top coach said sharing a story on Instagram.

In 2017 and 2018, Darren Cahill coached Halep to No.1 on the WTA Tour and the 2018 French Open championship. After a year away, Cahill rejoined with Halep in 2020.

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Simona Halep suffers another setback in her doping allegations case as the former World No. 1 remains suspended

“Today I found out that the decision in my case, which was expected this week, will be further delayed. This is terribly disappointing, as I have consistently said that all I ask for is to be judged,” Halep wrote on her Instagram stories. “It is hard to explain the emotional toll that all of these delays have had and continue to have on me,” the former world no.1 said, talking about her mental health.

As a result of the suspension, the former World No.1 has dropped out of the WTA top 1000 rankings. “The fact that I’m not in the rankings anymore is a big blow. I worked for 20 years to build this ranking, year after year, without a break. There was a tremendous emotional and mental toll,” said the two-time Grand Slam champion in an interview with Eurosport Romania.

Simona Halep has repeatedly criticised tennis’s anti-doping bodies for repeatedly delaying her independent tribunal hearing and not allowing her the chance to defend herself against a rule violation.

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