Romanian tennis star Simona Halep is taking legal action against the Canadian company responsible for a dietary supplement she alleges led to her doping violation and subsequent four-year ban from the sport, a sanction that could potentially end her career.
The two-time Grand Slam champion is pursuing damages exceeding $10 million from Quantum Nutrition, trading as Schinoussa Superfoods. This action follows her positive test for roxadustat during the 2022 US Open, a substance often used to treat anaemia but prohibited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) due to its performance-enhancing effects.
The former world No.1 claims she consumed the supplements during the 2022 Flushing Meadows tournament, specifically mentioning the Keto MCT product, which she alleges was contaminated with roxadustat, an ingredient not listed on the label. Halep asserts that she has never knowingly taken banned substances and accuses Quantum of negligence and false advertising, which have severely damaged her career and reputation.
In response to these allegations, Quantum, headquartered in Scarborough, Ontario, has yet to issue a public statement regarding the lawsuit. The company’s founder previously dismissed Halep’s claims, suggesting she was seeking a scapegoat.
Last week, Halep appealed the four-year ban before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland. As the athlete remains focused on clearing her name and returning to professional tennis, her legal team has filed the lawsuit in a New York state court in Manhattan, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages. (source: ESPN)
