Simona Halep will not participate at this year’s US Open as her battle with the anti-doping authorities lingers on.
The former Wimbledon Champion had joined the GS on provisional basis in suspension however, on this Monday, the Romanian was taken off the final list because of her pending status at the doping watchdog. American Taylor Townsend will replace her at the New York.
Since October 2020, the 2-time Grand Slam winner is serving a temporary suspension for testing positive for the banned blood oxygen enhancer roxadustat at the US Open in 2018. Halep, then received another anti-doping charge in May 2023 and has since dropped out of the top 1000 in WTA.
Sports arbitration officials at Sport Resolutions are currently conducting an independent review of the Romanian’s case but have so far not been able to come up with any sort of solid finding that supports their subject’s stance.
“As an independent tribunal, we are unable to comment on any aspect of our cases, whether proceedings have concluded or are ongoing. We take this approach on all cases that come to us. Thank you for your understanding and we apologize that we cannot provide you with more details at this time,” the Sports Resolutions tribunal told Romanian Adevarul.
The arbitration group heard testimony from 31-year-old in June and was expected to give its verdict in two weeks’ time.
“She was heard today, but she will be heard tomorrow as well,” Digi Sport’s Dragos Suciu wrote in June.
“In about two weeks we should have a first verdict. The moment that was delayed has happened. Together with the lawyers, Simona presented her arguments. We will see what the decisions will be.
“Generally, two-year suspensions are given here, then the decisions are appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. They are generally halved there. The term of provisional suspension is reduced, and that provisional suspension is from November 2022.”
Halep has pled not guilty of the substance abuse throughout and feels frustrated by the continuation of suspension.
“I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which came as the biggest shock of my life.
Throughout my whole career, the idea of cheating never even crossed my mind once, as it is totally against all the values I have been educated with. Facing such an unfair situation, I feel completely confused and betrayed,” Halep said
“The situation has been really hard. Emotionally, it’s heavy. The stress is huge because I never thought I would face something like this,” Halep said in an interview with Cédric Rouquette of Tennis Majors.
The tennis star admitted that the stress and slowness in the processing of appeal has taken its toll on her.
“I have always been against doping as I am a big supporter of clean sports. At the beginning, I didn’t know how to handle it. Over time, I just tried to stay calm and actually, I feel confident because I know I’m clean and I didn’t take anything knowingly that is banned.”
It will be really tough for the Romanian to not receive a wildcard for New York major but she still has the support of many notable figures in tennis including her former coach Darren Cahill. It is hoped that Halep will be given the right to a fair trial and allowed to grace the tennis courts once again.