Simona Halep's tough doping update amid French Open setback

Simona Halep will most likely miss Roland Garros due to her provisional suspension for doping after her hearing was pushed back again. Fans were left absolutely floored last year when the International Tennis Integrity Agency announced that Halep had tested positive for the blood-boosting drug Roxadustat at the US Open.

The former World No.1 and two-time grand slam champion was provisionally suspended pending a hearing. Halep immediately announced she would fight the finding and claimed she has never cheated throughout her career.

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But in a frustrating process, Halep's father appeared to confirm their trial has been pushed back on a number of occasions.. The trial is now set for 30 April, which means she will miss the cut off for Roland Garros' main card entry.

However, there is hope for the Romanian. If Halep is cleared she can still potentially be handed a wildcard entry in time for the grand slam starting on 28 May.

Halep's father, Stere, hit out at the hearing process and doubled down on her quest to clear her name. “We still don’t know anything. We’re waiting just like you are. We don’t know what’s happening,” he told Romanian publication Gazeta Sporturilor.

“The deadline was initially set for the 28th, but from what we understand, it was postponed to 30th. We are doing okay. When you’re innocent, you fight tooth and nail.”

The World No.36 hasn't competed since the US Open and would be desperate to clear her name and take part in her first tournament in 2023. Halep's fans were also left frustrated with the long process.

Tennis world rallies around Simona Halep

At the time of the announcement, Halep was adamant she would fight the provisional suspension and return to tennis. "I have been notified that I have tested positive for a substance called Roxadustat in an extremely low quantity, which came as the biggest shock of my life," she wrote on social media.

"Throughout my whole career, the idea of cheating never even crossed my mind once, as it is totally against all the values I have been educated with. Facing such an unfair situation, I feel completely confused and betrayed.

"I will fight until the end to prove that I never knowingly took any prohibited substance and I have faith that, sooner or later, the truth will come out. It's not about the titles or money. It's about honour, and the love story I have developed with the game of tennis over the last 25 years."

The tennis world was also quick to rally behind the fan-favourite. Darren Cahill spent six years as Halep's coach, which brought with it a Roland Garros title, and fervently defended the 31-year-old Romanian.

"Simona wore out the words 'please double check this, triple check this to make sure it's legal, safe and permitted. If you are not sure, I'm not taking it," he wrote.

"Competing against clean athletes was important to her. Simona's integrity is faultless, she respects her peers, she loves the game and she always has her feet firmly planted on the ground as a humble, approachable champion."

He finished with: "I stand with Simo."

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