Tennis
Grand Slam Champion Simona Halep Planning to Appeal Four-Year Doping Ban
by privatebet.com - 2023/09/16
All hell broke loose after Simona Halep received a four-year doping ban from tennis, but she’s planning to do something about it. The two-time Grand Slam champion announced she’s planning to appeal her ban over doping violations, claiming she didn’t break any rules. The International Tennis Integrity Agency determined that Halep committed "intentional" anti-doping violations, banning her from tennis for four years. She’s been suspended since October 2022, when she tested positive for banned blood-booster Roxadustat at last year’s US Open. The former world no. 1 doesn’t plan to sit idly in the face of these accusations, and she intends to appeal against the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. "I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court. I intend to appeal this decision to The Court of Arbitration for Sport and pursue all legal remedies against the supplement company in question," said Halep in a statement. Halep’s suspension runs until October 6, 2026, and she will be 35 by the time it’s over. She currently has two Grand Slam titles under her belt – the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon – and she spent a total of 64 weeks at no. 1 on the WTA list.