Sat Nov 30 05:36:11 UTC 2024: ## Halep Accuses ITIA of Double Standard in Świątek Doping Case

**LONDON** – Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has accused the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of applying a double standard in its handling of doping cases, citing Iga Świątek’s recent one-month suspension compared to her own lengthy ban.

Świątek, the current world No. 1, tested positive for the prohibited substance trimetazidine in August. The ITIA accepted her explanation that the positive test was due to unintentional contamination of a melatonin supplement, resulting in a lenient one-month suspension. She will return to the WTA Tour in early December.

Halep, who initially received a four-year ban for a positive roxadustat test before it was reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), expressed outrage on Instagram. She questioned the stark difference in treatment between her case and Świątek’s, suggesting the ITIA acted with “bad will” in her case.

“I sit and wonder, ‘Why such a big difference in treatment and judgment?'” Halep wrote. “It can only be bad will on the part of ITIA, the organisation that did absolutely everything to destroy me despite the evidence.”

Halep’s criticism echoes concerns raised about the ITIA’s handling of Jannik Sinner’s positive test for an anabolic steroid. Sinner was cleared, a decision appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The contrasting outcomes have fueled allegations of a two-tier system favoring top-ranked players.

While ATP Tour chair Andrea Gaudenzi acknowledged potential communication issues in the Sinner case, he denied double standards. However, the different outcomes in the Świątek and Halep cases have reignited the debate surrounding fairness and consistency in tennis’ anti-doping procedures. The WADA appeal against Sinner’s exoneration is expected to be concluded by CAS in 2025.

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