Former international primary Simona Halep has referred to as on tennis’s anti-doping group to offer her the risk to transparent her identify after she was once provisionally suspended by means of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in October.
The former Wimbledon and French Open champion was once examined all over final yr’s US Open and each her A and B samples showed the presence of banned blood-booster roxadustat.
Halep strenuously denies knowingly taking a banned substance and says she has proof which proves low amounts of the anti-anemia drug entered her frame on account of a certified complement that was once infected.
In a commentary the International Tennis Federation (ITF) mentioned anti-doping instances don’t seem to be their accountability and are treated by means of the ITIA, which was once established by means of the game’s global governing our bodies to supervise integrity issues corresponding to doping and corruption.
In an interview with Tennis Majors, Halep’s first since studying of her failed medicine take a look at, the Romanian mentioned she has up to now been denied her proper to be heard by means of an impartial courtroom.
“I didn’t want to get out and talk because it was very emotional,” Halep, who on the time described her failed take a look at as the most important surprise of her existence, advised Tennis Majors.
“Actually, I couldn’t handle it very well. But now I feel the need to speak out loud to my supporters, my fans, and to the public because I am sure they really want to know why it’s taking so long and I really felt the need to do that.”
Halep says she despatched proof in regards to the contamination to the ITF in December and was hoping her case can be heard by means of an impartial tribunal in February however that it was once postponed after which a brand new date in March had additionally been put again.
“The ITF requested that the hearing on March 24th should be canceled,” Halep added. “I did not consider that as a result of as the rule of thumb says, a participant this is provisionally suspended is entitled to get an expedited listening to. Everything takes see you later.
“I asked the ITF to lift my sanction to be able to play but they also refused it.”
Halep says she has undertaken 10 exams since her sure end result, with they all coming again damaging. She now hopes to have a listening to in May however fears that can be cancelled.
“I believe that it’s not fair to spend eight months without even being judged by the tribunal. Emotionally, the whole period has not been easy,” the 31-year-old Halep mentioned.
“I’m not asking for special treatment. I just ask to be judged. How much longer is this going to take?”
In a commentary on Friday the ITF mentioned: “The ITF has had no involvement within the control of this situation, because the Tennis Anti-Doping Program is controlled and enforced by means of the ITIA on behalf of the ATP, WTA, ITF and Grand Slams.
In a separate commentary the ITIA mentioned the method was once ‘ongoing’ in keeping with the World Anti-Doping Code.
Halep says she has taken middle from the strengthen of the general public and her trainer Patrick Mouratoglou and is decided to come back again and problem for main titles once more.
“It made me feel stronger to come back and work harder to get back to the level that I was at before, and even higher,” she mentioned. “Until now, this is the hardest battle I’ve faced in my life and career. I love this sport and I want to play for the big titles again.”
Roxadustat stimulates the manufacturing of crimson blood cells just like the prohibited substance Erythropoietin (EPO).
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