Simona Halep provisionally suspended after testing positive for banned substance
Serena Williams provisionally suspended after testing positive for banned substance
BELLE VUE – Simona Halep has been provisionally suspended by the USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) for testing positive for a banned substance and is undergoing rehabilitation to recover from her treatment.
The result of the USADA investigation into Halep has come to light on Friday.
According to USADA spokesperson Steve Williams, the organisation’s investigation into the former world No.1 tennis player began in September.
The probe involved various USADA facilities and the US Anti-Doping Agency’s (USADA) Anti-Doping Review Panel which included the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Director General.
During this investigation the results of a doping test on 21 September 2015 were provided to the American anti-doping organization which included one sample collected from Simona Halep.
The test was conducted at the US Anti-Doping Agency facility located in Virginia and came after the player’s second-round match vs. Simona Diyas on Friday, 21 September 2015.
“We appreciate Ms Williams and the USADA for working expeditiously to bring this matter to a close,” said Williams in a statement.
“The USADA and its member anti-doping organizations play an important role in fighting for clean sport by ensuring athletes comply with anti-doping rules. We regret the circumstances surrounding Simona’s testing result, but we continue to believe that her positive test has no bearing on her ability to compete on the tennis court.”
Williams made the statement after Halep’s team and the player herself refused to be interviewed and insisted to WTA officials that they should be given equal treatment to the doping probe following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) announcement confirming that the player had tested positive for the banned substance “Thiomersal”.
The USADA official added that the only way the World Anti-Doping Agency could allow the player to return to competition was if the player cooperated
