Simona Halep defends coach Mouratoglou after ugly ban
Former world No. 1 tennis player Simona Halep has broken her silence on the controversy surrounding her suspension from the sport and her subsequent return to competition. Amid claims of manipulation and speculation regarding her relationship with coach Patrick Mouratoglou, Halep has offered insights into her experience and gratitude for the support she has received.
In September last year, Halep was handed a four-year ban from tennis after testing positive for the banned blood doping agent Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. However, in March of this year, following an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), her ban was reduced to nine months, allowing her to resume her career immediately.
During her time working with Mouratoglou, Halep’s suspension was linked to a contaminated supplement provided by the coach’s team. Mouratoglou took responsibility for the incident, acknowledging that the supplement contained banned substances, albeit unintentionally. Halep, in turn, refused to blame her former coach, emphasizing the trust she had in her team and their transparency regarding doping regulations.
Addressing the speculation of manipulation, Halep stated, “I always trusted the people I work with… it was nothing that he offered me to take something or to give me something.” She reiterated her belief in the importance of trust within a team for optimal performance.
Reflecting on her return to competition at the Miami Open in March, Halep expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received from fans, tournament staff, and fellow players. She described the experience as “amazing” and felt relieved to be back on the court, despite an unexpected retirement during her comeback match at the Paris Challenger.
Halep’s remarks shed light on the challenges she has faced during her suspension and her determination to resume her tennis career with integrity and resilience. As she continues her journey back into the competitive circuit, she remains thankful for the love and appreciation shown by the tennis community.
In her own words, Halep expressed her gratitude, stating, “It was great to be back and I felt relieved. I felt the freedom again to be able to go to the tournament and to be able to play, practice, the same routine, locker room. So it was a great experience and I’m really thankful that people welcomed me so beautiful.”
