Simona Halep, the former world number one tennis player, has been embroiled in a doping scandal after testing positive for roxadustat at the US Open in August 2022. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) conducted an investigation and concluded that the contamination likely came from a collagen supplement called Keto MCT.
In a recent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), it was determined that Halep had unknowingly consumed the contaminated supplement, leading to the presence of roxadustat in her system. The panel found that while Halep did bear some fault for not exercising sufficient care when using the supplement, her violations were not intentional.
However, the controversy did not end there for the Romanian player. In May 2023, she faced a second charge when irregularities were found in her athlete biological passport (ABP). Three experts assessed samples of her blood and concluded that there were signs of possible doping.
Halep’s defense argued that the irregularities were due to factors such as blood loss during an operation and periods of inactivity. Ultimately, Cas dismissed the second charge, stating that they were not convinced that Halep had committed an offence.
This latest development has cast a shadow over Halep’s career and raised questions about the effectiveness of anti-doping measures in professional sports. Fans and critics alike will be watching closely to see how this situation unfolds and what impact it will have on Halep’s legacy in the sport.
