Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has questioned the “large distinction” in how tennis doping circumstances are dealt with after world quantity two Iga Swiatek obtained a one-month ban.
The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) introduced on Thursday that Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing optimistic for banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).
Halep, who was out of motion for greater than 18 months following two separate anti-doping violations, has criticised the ITIA for having “utterly totally different approaches”.
“I stand and ask myself, why is there such a giant distinction in remedy and judgment?” Halep posted on Instagram on Friday.
“I am unable to discover and I don’t assume there is usually a logical reply. It will possibly solely be unhealthy will from ITIA, the group that has carried out completely the whole lot to destroy me regardless of the proof.”
Halep was provisionally suspended in October 2022 after testing optimistic for banned substance roxadustat – an anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the manufacturing of purple blood cells within the physique.
The Romanian was later banned for 4 years – a interval which was diminished to 9 months in March after an enchantment on the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport
Halep at all times maintained her innocence and argued she had taken a contaminated complement.
“I misplaced two years of my profession, I misplaced many nights once I could not sleep, ideas, nervousness, questions with out solutions,” the previous world primary mentioned.
“How is it attainable that in equivalent circumstances taking place across the similar time, ITIA to have utterly totally different approaches to my detriment?”
Swiatek examined optimistic for a coronary heart medicine, TMZ, in an out-of-competition pattern in August 2024, when she was world primary.
The ITIA accepted the five-time main winner’s violation was brought on by contamination of the regulated non-prescription medicine melatonin, manufactured and offered in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep points.
An ITIA spokesperson instructed BBC Sport there have been “crucial variations” between Halep’s case and Swiatek’s.
“No two circumstances are the identical, they usually contain totally different circumstances, and direct comparisons usually are not at all times useful,” the ITIA mentioned.
“The product contaminated in Ms Swiatek’s case was a regulated medicine, not a complement.”
Swiatek’s suspension comes after males’s world primary Jannik Sinner examined optimistic for clostebol in March.
Though the ITIA accepted there was “no fault or negligence” hooked up to the 23-year-old Italian, the World Anti-Doping Company (Wada) has launched an enchantment to Cas.
The ITIA mentioned: “We take care of every case based mostly on the info and proof, not a participant’s identify, rating or nationality. When a prohibited substance is present in a participant’s system, we examine it completely.
“We urge gamers to train excessive warning when taking dietary supplements and we’re at all times blissful to reply any questions they’ve.”
