The tennis fraternity has been surprised after Simona Halep’s name surfaced on the 2023 US Open entrance list.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) imposed on Halep a provisional suspension in October last year as a result of a positive drug test. According to reports, she tested positive for Roxadustat, which is listed on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of prohibited substances under EPO (erythropoietin).
Despite the fact that players are prohibited from joining a tournament while they are suspended by the WTA, Halep can participate in the year’s final Grand Slam even though her trial is still underway and a decision is not yet given.
Recently the ITIA has acknowledged in a statement that a decision has been made: “I promise you that no decision has been made available to anyone yet. In the US Open roster, it is clearly marked as provisionally suspended, and therefore, if it remains suspended, it will be withdrawn. If it’s not, she can compete”.
Simona Halep in 2023
Ranked no.54, Simona played her last match on the 29th of August 2022 when she was defeated by world no.128 Daria Snigur 6-2 0-6 6-4 in the 1st round of the U.S. Open (draw).
At the moment, during this season Halep has achieved an overall 39-11 record.
Simona Halep |
| Embed from Getty Images |
