Former world number one Simona Halep commented on the doping scandal involving Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek and shared her feelings about her own disqualification.
«I really cannot understand something like this. I am surprised by the significant disparity in how cases are handled and judged. I cannot find answers and don't think there can be a logical conclusion here. It can only be bad intentions on the part of the ITIA, the organization that has done everything possible to destroy me, despite the evidence.
They did everything they could to ruin the last years of my career, despite evidence pointing to my innocence. It was a tough time, but I got through it thanks to the love and support of those around me. Perhaps that is my greatest victory,” the tennis player wrote on social media.
In Swiatek's doping tests, trimetazidine was detected, which could have entered her system from contaminated sleeping pills. Because of this substance, Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva was disqualified for four years in January.
In March 2024, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) announced a reduction in Halep's disqualification period for violating anti-doping rules from 4 years to 9 months. As of March 2024, Halep has returned to competing in tournaments.