Coach Mouratoglou, BJK Cup team-mates, WTA peers offer Halep support after drugs suspension

Former world No 1 Simona Halep, who was provisionally suspended on Friday after testing positive for a banned substance at the US Open, has received support from her coach and peers on the WTA Tour.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (IATA) announced on Friday that Halep had traces of Roxadustat, an anti-anaemia drug that can promote the build-up of red blood cells, in her system.

In a social media post on Friday, Halep says she intends to prove her innocence and on Saturday, her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou linked to the post and said: “I support you 100 percent in this fight Simona. All the way through.”

Sorana Cirstea, the current Romanian No 3, posted a message on social media, saying she believes Halep, a two-time Grand Slam winner, ‘would never willingly and in good faith touch any doping substance’. The two were part of Romania’s Billie Jean King Cup squad in 2014, 2017 and 2018.

“Although we may not be the best of friends, I know Simona (Halep) well enough for decades to strongly believe that she would never willingly and in good faith touch any doping substance,” Cirstea said. “The sport of tennis represents fair play and puts rivalries aside. She is a great player that I believe won through her own merits.”

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Jaqueline Cristian, who is currently the fifth-highest ranked Romanian player on the women’s tour, also posted a message of support saying she strongly believes that Halep ‘didn’t cheat or take anything from that doping list!’

Mihaela Buzarnescu and the Transylvania Open social media handle were among those who posted messages supporting the 31-year-old Halep, who had decided to end her season days before she learnt about the result of her positive test.

Outside of Romania, Halep also received support from some of heer lgoabl peers, including Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, Russia’s Elena Vesnina and Ukraine’s Daya Yastremska.

The Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) also issued its support.

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