Former world No.4 Jelena Dokic explains that inconsistencies found in Simona Halep‘s Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) suggest that the intake of the banned substance was going on for some time rather than it being a single contamination event and that the recent new allegations are far worse than the initial positive doping test.
While the two-time Grand Slam champion Halep is accusing the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of wrongdoing for constantly postponing her hearing and unjustly keeping her career on hold, Dokic sheds light on the fact that those delays may be because of additional concerns of extended use.
Commenting on Halep’s doping case on Nine’s Sports Sunday, Dokic underscored the gravity of the roxadustat allegation and pointed out that the second allegation related to her biological passport indicates an extended period of prohibited substance use, intensifying the severity of the situation and raising critical questions about Halep’s involvement.
Dokic explains what the irregularities in Halep’s biological passport indicate:
There has been something going on for a while. She has always said that this is the case of contamination. This would prove, perhaps, otherwise. So it’s very, very serious.
According to Halep, a package of supplement she was taking was accidentally contaminated with roxadustat, a major mistake by the product’s manufacturing company. It is worth noting that the detected levels of roxadustat in the Romanian’s body were extremely low. Since supplements are typically consumed regularly, that would probably explain the extended use mentioned by Dokic.
While the focus has primarily been on Halep’s career and the delays in her hearing, Dokic reminds us that it is Halep’s reputation that is most profoundly impacted by this scandal. As a former world No.1 and a respected figure in the tennis community, Halep’s integrity and legacy are on the line. The accusations of extended use and the seriousness of the doping agent involved make it imperative for Halep to not only save her career but also safeguard her reputation.
