Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has questioned the “large distinction” in how tennis doping instances are dealt with after world quantity two Iga Swiatek acquired 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 completely 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 generally is a logical reply. It might solely be unhealthy will from ITIA, the group that has achieved completely all the things 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 decreased to 9 months in March after an attraction on the Court docket 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 stated.
“How is it potential that in equivalent instances taking place across the identical time, ITIA to have utterly completely different approaches to my detriment?”
Swiatek examined optimistic for a coronary heart treatment, 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 attributable to contamination of the regulated non-prescription treatment melatonin, manufactured and bought in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep points.
An ITIA spokesperson advised BBC Sport there have been “crucial variations” between Halep’s case and Swiatek’s.
“No two instances are the identical, they typically contain completely different circumstances, and direct comparisons usually are not at all times useful,” the ITIA stated.
“The product contaminated in Ms Swiatek’s case was a regulated treatment, not a complement.”
