Russian teenager banned from tennis for nine months following anti-doping breach
A Russian teenager with alleged links to a doping programme has been banned from the Tour de France for nine months for breaching anti-doping rules.
The world number two, Simona Halep, was banned for the first time after admitting to taking a legal “mask” containing a banned substance, according to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The athlete’s father claims his daughter had been on a hunger strike since the ban began.
Halep’s parents reportedly have not had contact with her since the ban began. Halep’s father claims his daughter has been on a hunger strike
The 17-year-old’s family says she was using the banned substance masking cream to hide a side effect of the anti-doping drug Surodrol, which was the drug she was taking during the second half of the 2017 and 2018 grand slams in Australia.
Simona went on an alleged hunger strike during the investigation into her use of the banned substance.
A statement from her family read: “We would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the CAS and all of those who worked together to ensure that Simona’s case was resolved in the most appropriate way,” Halep’s family said. “As such, we offer full solidarity with Simona and her family in respect to this issue. We appreciate the solidarity shown to Simona and also the support shown at her case, and we are glad to see that she has received the support she needs.”
“This investigation should serve as a warning not to allow your child to play sport or participate in other athletic competitions until they are fully cleared by her doctors.”
The world number two, Simona Halep, from Russia, has been banned for nine months after violating anti-doping rules
Cheryl Crow, head of the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) who oversaw the investigation, said: “I am pleased and grateful to have been able to conduct this investigation with the assistance of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and all the relevant parties, and am delighted to be able to share the outcome of this investigation
