Former World No.1 Simona Halep provisionally suspended after testing positive for a banned substance at the US Open

(CNN) — Former women’s tennis No. 1 Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITA) after testing positive for a banned substance during the US Open. According to the IWA, Halep tested positive for Roxadustat, a substance listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) 2022 prohibited list. The two-time tennis Grand Slam champion denied knowingly taking the banned substance. “Today the hardest match of my life begins: a fight for the truth. I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which has been the biggest shock of my life,” said the tennis player. 31-year-old in a statement on social media this Friday. “Throughout my entire career, the idea of ​​cheating has never once crossed my mind, as it totally goes against all the values ​​I’ve been raised with. Faced with such an unfair situation, “I feel completely confused and betrayed. I will fight to the end to prove that I have never knowingly taken any banned substance and I have faith that sooner or later the truth will come out.” “It’s not about the titles or the money. It’s about the honor and the love affair that I’ve developed with the game of tennis for the last 25 years,” Halep said. Halep was informed of the infringement on October 7, and exercised the right to request that the B sample be analyzed, which confirmed the finding in the A sample. The Romanian tennis player will not be able to compete or attend any tennis event organized by the organs governance of this sport.