Former tennis star Ion Țiriac has spoken candidly about the doping suspension of Simona Halep, suggesting the Romanian player was the victim of a conspiracy. Retired from tennis for a year and a half, Halep remains a subject of intense debate due to the manner in which her career ended. Caught in a positive test for roxadustat, the athlete received a severe penalty, which Țiriac considers unjust and poorly managed. The billionaire believes that Halep was practically "set up" at a high level, and the hesitations from her own staff sealed her fate.

Țiriac is of the opinion that the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne did not judge her case with the same standard as a recent incident in men's tennis. According to him, the lack of a prompt response from Halep's team cost her years of performance.

“These are the rules they made. I was at CAS and asked about Halep and they did it to her. She made one mistake. 'You were found with something...' / 'I don't know, ask my team, the one who gave me to drink, the one who gave me the bottle, the one who gave me something...'. The one who gave her the bottle admitted that he gave it to her, but it was after three or four months, and it was already too late,” Țiriac said, according to GSP.

The Lack of Logic Surrounding the Positive Test

As one of the founders of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Țiriac emphasized that Halep's poor physical condition at the time contradicts the logic of intentional doping meant to improve her game.

“When I made that WADA in 1990, before Sydney, I was one of the five who made it. And I made it exactly for this reason: 'No one is allowed to touch anything from there!'. Sometimes a Halep happens, explain to me the logic by which Halep played the US Open as a wreck. Halep, who brought us our Wimbledon... do you know what Wimbledon means? In my life, it will never happen again, in my son's life, it probably won't happen again, and in my grandson's life, who knows,” the former tennis player added.

Despite her career ending in scandal, Țiriac called for absolute respect for the achievements of the former WTA No. 1.

“Halep still had one, two, or three good years ahead, but let's not forget that, as she was, she is one of the greatest athletes Romania has ever had. My respect for the Olympic medal and all, but bringing Wimbledon to Romania... she must be respected forever!” Ion Țiriac concluded.