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Simona Halep has discovered the potential ban she could face after testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat. The International Tennis Integrity Agency confirmed Halep had been provisionally suspended from competing in a statement on Friday.
The ITIA’s statement read: “The subsequent analysis found that the A sample contained FG-4592 (Roxadustat), which is a prohibited substance listed in the 2022 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. Adverse Analytical Findings for non-specified substances carry a mandatory provisional suspension.
“The player exercised their right to request that the B sample was analysed, which confirmed the finding in the A sample. While provisionally suspended, the player is ineligible to compete in or attend any sanctioned tennis events organised by the governing bodies of the sport.”
In response, the two-time Grand Slam winner pledged her innocence, claiming she will ‘fight until the end to prove that she never knowingly took any prohibited substance’. Halep wrote on social media: “Today begins the hardest match of my life: a fight for the truth.
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“It’s not about the titles or the money. It’s about honour, and the love story that I have developed with the game of tennis over the last 25 years.”
But the 31-year-old could well be facing a lengthy amount of time on the sidelines. Under the World Anti-Doping Code, Halep could face a ban of up to four years for a positive test for a substance like Roxadustat.
Whilst the two-time Grand Slam champion remains provisionally suspended, she will be unable to compete on the WTA Tour.
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