Former world tennis number one and and Wimbledon champion, Simona Halep, has been found guilty of a second breach of anti-doping rules, the International Tennis Integrity Agency, ITIA says.
Halep was first suspended in October 2022 for testing positive for the banned substance roxadustat, which stimulates the production of red blood cells, at the US Open in August last year.
The ITIA, on Friday said the two-time Grand Slam winner has been further charged “relating to irregularities in her athlete biological passport”.
The athlete biological passport programme monitors biological data over time to identify potential doping violations.
The ITIA’s senior director for anti-doping, Nicole Sapstead, says “We understand that the announcement adds complexity to an already high-profile situation.
“From the outset of this process – and indeed any other at the ITIA – we have remained committed to engaging with Halep in an empathetic, efficient, and timely manner.”
Halep, 31, said after her positive test last October that she would “fight until the end” to clear her name.
