Simona Halep revived painful memories regarding her doping suspension after Iga Swiatek received a mere one-month ban for a doping violation involving contaminated non-prescription medication (melatonin). Halep, who endured a grueling 18-month suspension and significant career setbacks, took to Instagram to express her dismay at what she perceives as an unjust disparity in the treatment of their cases by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).
Halep was provisionally suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat, a banned substance. Despite presenting evidence that the trace amounts found in her system came from a contaminated supplement, Halep faced a four-year ban in September 2023, which was later reduced to nine months following an appeal. The protracted nature of her case and the severity of the initial punishment left Halep deeply affected, both personally and professionally.
In stark contrast, while still being the world No. 1, Swiatek tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024, after taking a contaminated melatonin supplement produced in Poland. Unlike Halep, Swiatek’s case was resolved swiftly.
The ITIA cited evidence of contamination and low levels of the substance in Swiatek’s system as justification for the reduced penalty. However, Halep argues that her case shared similar circumstances, including contamination, yet resulted in vastly different outcomes.
“I sit and wonder, why such a big difference in treatment and judgment? I can’t find and I don’t think there can be a logical answer,” Halep wrote on social media after learning that Swiatek received the mildest possible ban.
“They really wanted to destroy the last years of my career, they wanted something that I could never have imagined could be desired. I have always believed in good, I have believed in the fairness of this sport, I have believed in kindness,” she reflected on the most difficult period in her professional life.
The Romanian shared the toll the suspension took on her: “I lost two years of my career, I lost many nights in which I couldn’t sleep, thoughts, anxiety, unanswered questions… but I won justice,” she wrote. Yet, she questioned why justice came so late and at such a high cost.
“How is it possible that in identical cases that happened at about the same time, ITIA has completely different approaches to my detriment,” Halep questioned, labeling the ITIA as an organization that did absolutely everything to destroy her despite the evidence.
Halep’s critique extended beyond the ITIA to include the WTA and the players’ council, accusing them of neglecting her plight and failing to reinstate her ranking despite the eventual reduction of her ban.
Women’s Tennis Blog