A mistake by assistants to coach Patrick Mouratoglou is ultimately to blame for Simona Halep being given tainted supplements which have resulted in a four-year ban from tennis.
The former No. 1 who will appeal her ban in January at Lausanne’s Court for the Arbitration of Sport, spelled out dirty details of the major cock-up to Paris Match.
The double Grand Slam champion – who will be 35 when her possible ban ends – told the respected newsweekly that even if her appeal is not upheld, she is ready to wait out the sentence and then return to her sport.
“I prefer not to consider the worst-case scenario. It would be a disaster,” the Romanian said.
“If the sanction is maintained, I cannot know what will happen over the next three years, how my body will evolve.”
“My dream is to come back, whatever my age. One thing is certain:
“I want to choose how my career ends and I don’t want to end my playing life anywhere other than on a court.
“I think that, given the work I have put in over all these years, I deserve it.”
Halep tested positive for the blood-boosting substance Roxadustat. and was also banned for irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport; she denies both charges.
The longtime Top 10 player said her coach’s assistants gave her what turned out to be tainted food supplements. She suggested the mistake was not done on purpose.
“I’m sure it wasn’t done intentionally and I’m grateful he admits the mistake was his and his team’s” Halep said.
“They are the ones who gave me this food supplement. And for this error – their error – I am the only one to pay the high price. Twenty-five years of career destroyed.”
Mouratoglou has all but admitted his mistake and has been working to aid Halep in her appeal of the harsh ban.
“We proposed her to take collagen from a company,” he said. “She’s a victim.”
