Coach Patrick Mouratoglou didn’t say much about the Simona Halep doping news but did say that he is fully behind his player. On Friday, the ITIA announced that Halep tested positive for the anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat.
Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been provisionally suspended. Halep provided a sample during the US Open, which showed the traces of Roxadustat. “I support you 100% in this fight, Simona. All the way through,” Mouratoglou wrote on his Instagram Story.
Mouratoglou responded to Halep’s statement
Shortly after the ITIA announced the Halep suspension, the Romanian tennis star released a statement. In her message to public, Halep insisted that she would never cheat in any way possible.
“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. 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,” Halep said in a statement. In April, Halep and Mouratoglou kicked off their partnership.
After the US Open, Halep underwent a nose surgery and put an end to her season. 10 days ago, Mouratoglou announced that he accepted to coach Holger Rune until the end of this season. Also, Mouratoglou underlined that Halep gave him the permission to work with Rune while she’s recovering from her surgery. It remains to be seen when will Halep be able to return to tennis.
