Simona Halep’s Doping Situation

What a week it has BEEN! Alcaraz back to winning! Thiem beating Tommy Paul! Pegula winning her second title (and first 1000)! Undoubtedly, however, the biggest story this week has to be Simona Halep’s provisional suspension for failing a drug test. Halep tested positive for the use of roxadustat, which improves a player’s endurance on the field.

I am not a fan of Simona Halep. I do not enjoy the way she plays tennis. I am still mad that she has beaten some of my favorite players on her way to win titles (Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams, if you’re wondering). I celebrate when my favorite players beat Simona Halep. All of this being said: I respect Simona Halep’s work ethic. She has always been a fair player and deserved the spot of World Number One when she held it. Nobody works harder than Simona Halep. I do not think she was aware of the roxadustat in her system. 

Several big names in the tennis community have come to Halep’s defense, including her ex-coach Darren Cahill and current coach Patrick Mouratoglou. Mouratoglou’s response is to be expected, but Cahill went out of his way to support a player he no longer works with. That is indicative of something not being right. 

In another surprising turn, Toni Iuric, Halep’s ex-husband, also expressed shock in response to the news. This was especially surprising as Iuric has taken public stabs at Halep in the past (and manages to do so here again): “This girl, my ex-wife, is obsessed with one thing: honor! You can take anything from Simona, (but) if you (take) away her honor, her fairness, you kill her! She is no longer human!” (https://tennisuptodate.com/wta/ex-husband-of-halep-toni-iuruc-responds-after-positive-drugs-test) 

Simona Halep works hard, and even her detractors say she plays fair. What in the world is going on?