Simona Halep unleashes after brutal new twist in doping scandal

Three-time grand slam champ Simona Halep has let rip at the authorities after she claimed her latest doping hearing was postponed for a third time. Halep was hit with a second doping charge last week, which left the tennis world stunned.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) claimed there were 'irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport'. This is on top of the ITIA announcing last year she had tested positive for the blood-boosting drug Roxadustat at the US Open.

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The 31-year-old was provisionally suspended pending a hearing. Halep immediately announced she would fight the finding and claimed she has never cheated throughout her career.

However, the Romanian star has been left fuming with the ITIA after she recently claimed the body had pushed back her hearing dates twice. This meant she has been unable to fight the charges as she remains off the tour provisionally suspended.

And in the latest news after her second doping charge, Halep has taken to social media to blast the organisation for postponing her hearing for a third time. "Once again, tonight, I am devastated," she wrote. "The ITIA has once again, for the third time postponed my hearing one month later.

"I am waiting to be judged since last October...I have asked, as the rules of the anti-doping state it, for a quick hearing: this is my right, it is written in the rules! Unfortunately, the ITIA has postponed my hearing three times."

Halep said having missed the Australian Open and the upcoming Roland Garros and Wimbledon grand slams, she will be hit hard by her ranking points. The Romanian said the process is 'killing my reputation' and has called for her hearing to take place as soon as possible.

Tennis world rallies around Simona Halep

Last week, the ITIA has announced a fresh doping charge against Halep. “The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirms that Romanian tennis player Simona Halep has been charged with a further and separate breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), relating to irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport (ABP),” a statement read.

“The additional charge of an Adverse Passport Finding was based on an assessment of Ms. Halep's ABP profile by an independent ABP Expert Panel. That charge is separate and in addition to the existing Roxadustat charge from August 2022 which triggered Ms. Halep’s original provisional suspension.”

Halep responded and claimed she had 'lived the worst nightmare' throughout the ordeal as she fights to overturn the charges. And fans have quickly rallied around the tennis star as she waits for her time to explain her case.

Coach Patrick Mouratoglou also spoke out in defence of Halep.

Halep's latest development means not only will she miss Roland Garros, she is looking very unlikely to compete at Wimbledon. Aussie tennis legend Ash Barty recently claimed she hoped Halep would have a chance to explain her side of the story in the doping scandal.

Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg claimed the 'severe' charges were one of the strongest accusations against any former No.1 player ever.

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