Simona Halep: Two-time Grand Slam winner criticizes ITIA after Iga Swiatek’s doping ban

Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep questions the “big difference” in the way tennis doping cases are handled after world number two Iga Swiatek received a one-month suspension.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Thursday that Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine (TMZ).

Halep, who was out of action for more than 18 months following two separate anti-doping rule violations, criticized the ITIA for having “completely different approaches”.

“I stand up and ask myself, why is there such a big difference in treatment and judgment?” Halep posted on Instagram on Friday.

“I cannot find and I do not think that there can be a logical answer. This can only be bad will on the part of ITIA, the organization which did absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence .”

Halep was provisionally suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for the banned substance roxadustat – an anti-anemia drug that stimulates the production of red blood cells in the body.

The Romanian was then banned for four years – a period which was reduced to nine months in March after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Halep has always maintained her innocence and maintained that she took a contaminated supplement.

“I lost two years of my career, I lost many nights where I couldn’t sleep, thoughts, anxiety, unanswered questions,” the former world number one said.

“How is it possible that in identical cases occurring around the same time, the ITIA has completely different approaches to my detriment?”

Swiatek tested positive for heart drug TMZ in an out-of-competition sample in August 2024, when she was world number one.

The ITIA acknowledged that the five-time winner’s violation was caused by contamination of melatonin, a regulated over-the-counter drug manufactured and sold in Poland, which Swiatek took for jet lag and sleep problems.

An ITIA spokesperson told BBC Sport there were “very significant differences” between Halep’s case and Swiatek’s.

“No two cases are the same, they often involve different circumstances and direct comparisons are not always useful,” the ITIA said.

“The contaminated product in Ms. Swiatek’s case was a regulated drug, not a supplement.”

Swiatek’s suspension comes after men’s world number one Jannik Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March.

Although the ITIA acknowledged there was “no fault or negligence” attached to the 23-year-old Italian, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an appeal to the Case.

The ITIA said: “We handle each case on the basis of the facts and evidence, not the name, ranking or nationality of a player. When a banned substance is found in the body of a player player, we are investigating thoroughly.

“We urge players to exercise extreme caution when taking supplements and are always happy to answer any questions they may have.”