Simona Halep some time ago occupied first place in the WTA rankings and rejoiced at her victories at the Grand Slam tournaments. But all these successes are in the past, and in the near future the tennis player will face a long disqualification. The Romanian once criticized Maria Sharapova for doping, but now she herself is among the players with a tarnished reputation.

Yesterday’s fans accuse Halep of cheating, and Serena, without hiding her joy, even hopes to return the Wimbledon tournament title she once lost to her rival.

“Standard Sanction”

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep was one of Maria Sharapova’s vocal critics during the Meldonium story. The Romanian insisted that she herself never thought about doping, but it so happened that in 2022 the tennis player tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat, and she also had problems with her biological passport. Suspicious tests were obtained during the athlete’s performance at last year’s US Open; since then, the two-time Grand Slam champion has not participated in official competitions.

Halep received a temporary disqualification, but there was still a chance of restoring her good name. WADA admitted that the prohibited substance could have entered Simone’s body unintentionally – through sports nutrition or something else. However, in November 2022, the Romanian heard an unpleasant verdict from the independent sports dispute resolution agency Sport Resolutions.

— The doping allegation was brought to the attention of Halep. The investigation phase has been completed. From now on, Simone has 20 days at her disposal to either challenge the indictment or enter into, and there is also the possibility of, a plea agreement, which will reduce the period of her disqualification from 4 years, which is the standard sanction, to 3 years, TVR quoted a representative Paul Chukur agency.

“I’m doing everything I can”

Halep was not going to admit guilt and tried to continue the fight for her reputation. In June 2023, an independent tribunal was held in London with the participation of experts representing the interests of the Romanian, members of the International Tennis Assurance Agency (ITIA) and the athlete herself. There were still chances to avoid severe punishment, but on September 11, the judicial body made a decision – Simone was guilty of a deliberate violation of anti-doping rules, the former world number one was disqualified for 4 years. The suspension is counted from October last year, so the titled tennis player is not expected on the court until October 2026. She herself, however, has not yet come to terms with this.

“I did not agree with the decision on a four-year disqualification. I continue to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false accusations and return to court. “I intend to appeal this decision to CAS and pursue all legal remedies against the dietary supplement company,” Halep wrote on social media.

Photo: © REUTERS/Kelly Defina

Simone will still fight, but some of her colleagues are already completely convinced that the athlete’s reputation is ruined. Former US tennis player Nicole Gibbs said she was disappointed by her idols’ cheating, and seven-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams wrote meaningfully on social media: “8 is more appropriate clean.” It seems that the American is hinting at the final of the Wimbledon tournament, in which Halep beat her like a skating rink, winning in two sets – 6:2, 6:2. Does she really expect that she will be quietly given a victory in that tournament?

In any case, you can’t envy the Romanian now, but she can personally feel what Sharapova, whom she criticized, felt several years ago.