Simona Halep: Third doping case hearing delay is 'contrary to my rights'

Simona Halep's Wimbledon triumph successful 2019 was her 2nd Grand Slam title

Former satellite fig 1 Simona Halep has accused tennis' doping authorization of "publicly stating 1 happening portion privately doing another" by requesting a further hold to her hearing.

The Romanian, 31, has been suspended since October aft investigating affirmative for a banned substance astatine the US Open.

The 2nd complaint is abstracted to the 1 for which she is already suspended.

In a connection connected Twitter, 2019 Wimbledon champion Halep said the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) had requested a 3rd delay.

Halep, who denies the charges, said she was "extremely shocked and disappointed by the ITIA's attitude".

"While the ITIA via their typical Nicole Sapstead was publically stating 3 days agone that the ITIA 'has remained committed to engaging Mrs Halep successful an empathetic, businesslike and timely manner', they were astatine the aforesaid clip officially requesting the tribunal to hold my hearing... for the 3rd time," Halep said.

"The ITIA publically states 1 happening portion privately doing another, I person repeatedly asked for my proceeding and the ITIA has repeatedly sought to hold it.

"When is it going to stop? I inquire the question erstwhile again. I americium entitled to a speedy hearing. Acting this mode is contrary to my rights."

Halep's coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, said the ITIA had played a "double game" from "day one".

Halep's suspension past twelvemonth was imposed aft she tested affirmative for roxadustat, an anti-anaemia cause which stimulates the accumulation of reddish humor cells successful the body. She denies knowingly taking the banned substance.

In April she spoke for the archetypal time since her suspension, saying she was frustrated with the clip it was taking for the lawsuit to beryllium resolved. The ITIA said "the process is ongoing".

The investigations into failed tests by the ITIA are often complex, peculiarly erstwhile a subordinate denies taking a substance knowingly.

It is not uncommon for cases to instrumentality months to beryllium resolved.

In specified cases, a subordinate tin nutrient grounds to disprove oregon mitigate the failed test. This would bring further probe and investigating by the ITIA, starring to the process being further extended.

BBC Sport has contacted the ITIA for comment.

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