‘NO chance’ Simona Halep ‘knowingly took banned substance’ insists former coach
Simona Halep would never to her own knowledge take a banned substance according to her former coach Darren Cahill.
The Australian said so in support of his former charge as the two-time Slam champion received a provisional suspension after testing positive for Roxadustat at the US Open. Halep is adamant that she would never cheat to gain an advantage, and Cahill agrees.
“Even though I’m no longer working with Simona, I’d like to speak clearly to the person I know and the athlete that I worked with for 6 years,” Cahill begins a caption on his Instagram. “Firstly, and most importantly, there is NO chance Simona knowingly or purposely took any substance on the banned list. None. Zero.”
Cahill goes on to explain that Halep was extremely careful regarding any substances she put into her body during their time working together. He highlighted and praised her honesty. At the same time, Cahill also backed the ITIA testing program, stating ‘while the system is not perfect, it works’.
“Simona’s integrity is faultless,” he continued. “She respects her peers, she loves the game and she always has her feet firmly planted on the ground as a humble, approachable champion.”
Simona Halep had already ended her 2022 season following nose surgery in September. The suspension means she is currently barred from all professional competition for the foreseeable future.
In three years with Cahill from 2016 to the end of 2018, Halep finished two seasons as world number one. She reached three Slam finals, and won her first Major title at the 2018 French Open. Cahill returned in autumn 2019 soon after Halep claimed her second Slam at Wimbledon, before the pair separated again in September 2021.
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