{"id":298142,"date":"2023-12-15T20:44:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T20:44:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298142"},"modified":"2023-12-15T20:44:56","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T20:44:56","slug":"simona-halep-predicts-end-of-her-career-as-banned-tennis-star-breaks-silence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/tennis\/simona-halep-predicts-end-of-her-career-as-banned-tennis-star-breaks-silence\/","title":{"rendered":"Simona Halep predicts ‘end of her career’ as banned tennis star breaks silence"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Simona Halep fears that her tennis career will be over if her four-year ban is not reduced. The 2019 Wimbledon champion was suspended from the sport by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for \u201cintentional\u201d doping offences.<\/p>\n

Halep tested positive for the banned substance Roxadustat in August 2022 and was provisionally suspended from competitive tennis two months later. She was later charged with irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) and was handed a four-year ban in September of this year.<\/p>\n

The 32-year-old, who has denied knowingly taking the substance, has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to have the sanction reduced. A two-time Grand Slam champion, Halep believes that the ban being upheld will bring to an end her tennis career.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than a year has already passed, and every day I felt it very painfully, full of emotions. It was a shock to me when I received the letter that my urine test, only my urine test, was positive,\u201d she told Euronews.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know I haven\u2019t done anything wrong and I know I\u2019m clean. I have always been against doping. Four years is a long time at my age. If it\u2019s four years, I don\u2019t know how I\u2019ll manage. It will probably be the end of my career, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Halep given four-year ban from tennis over doping offences<\/h3>\n

Referencing coach Patrick Mouratoglou\u2019s feeling of \u201cresponsibility\u201d for Halep consuming the banned substance, she added: \u201cAnd for something I didn\u2019t do and isn\u2019t my fault, it\u2019s even more catastrophic. Indeed, it (Mouratoglou’s comments) came out publicly. I wish I had done this a little sooner.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was hard for me, because I always trusted my teams, previous teams and everyone I work with. I always had confidence, and my confidence is now a little shaken.<\/p>\n

Halep is likely to hear a CAS decision in early February. She will have the option to appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days of the outcome.<\/p>\n