“Absolutely criminal” – Simona Halep’s removal from the US Open draw owing to her ongoing doping investigation has fans upset

Simona Halep has been replaced by America's Taylor Townsend.

“Absolutely criminal” – Simona Halep’s removal from the US Open draw owing to her ongoing doping investigation has fans upset

Fans react to Simona Halep missing out on US Open due to doping suspension (Image via Sky Sports)

Fans were left in shock following the release of the 2023 US Open main draw as former Wimbledon Champion Simona Halep’s name was missing. The Romanian’s name was automatically dropped from the list at the deadline- on Monday owing to her provisional doping suspension which dates back to October 2022. American Taylor Townsend will replace Halep in the main draw.

Even though it has been a year since the 31-year-old’s doping sample tested positive for the banned blood booster roxadustat, Halep remains suspended and is still waiting for a fair trial of her case. 

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As the Romanian has claimed, Halep has tried to prove her innocence multiple times by providing evidence showing that small amounts of the drug entered her system through a contaminated supplement.

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Nevertheless, Simona Halep remains out of the tour and will miss the 2023 US Open. Taylor Townsend has replaced the Romanian who was hit with a second anti-doping charge in May this year, in the main draw. Although Halep called out the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and accused the body of harassment, there has been no action taken. 

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Fans livid about Simona Halep not getting a fair trial by ITIA

Simona Halep
Simona Halep (Image via The Guardian)

This laid-back attitude from ITIA and Simona Halep missing out on the year’s last Grand Slam due to her provisional suspension from the tour has angered the fans who thrashed the body on social media. A large section of fans could not fathom that a former Wimbledon Champions has been denied a fair trial and that Halep will miss the US Open. 

Check out the spectrum of reactions on X below.

Simona Halep has constantly called out the authorities for the delay in her trial. “I tried two times to have the opportunity to be judged by an Independent Tribunal and the ITIA has constantly found reasons to postpone,” the 31-year-old had claimed in a social media post a few months back. Now, it is to be seen how long before ITIA looks into the matter and hears Halep out.

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