"Can't believe Simona Halep would knowingly take a PED, she's just not that person" - Rennae Stubbs doubles down on Romanian's innocence after doping ban
Simona Halep, who is facing a provisional ban for testing positive for the banned substance Roxadustat, has found support from tennis coach and commentator Rennae Stubbs.
Stubbs tweeted that she couldn't believe the two-time Grand Slam champion would knowingly take performance-enhancing drugs. She further stated that despite not being fully aware of the circumstances, Darren Cahill's comments about Halep made it even more apparent that the player did not intentionally use the banned substance.
Thinking more about this situation, i just can’t believe @Simona_Halep would KNOWINGLY take a PED. I know i don’t know all of the circumstances but she’s just not that person. Reading @darren_cahill comments today makes it even more apparent to me. I hope it gets cleared up," Stubbs wrote.
Thinking more about this situation, i just can’t believe @Simona_Halep would KNOWINGLY take a PED. I know i don’t know all of the circumstances but she’s just not that person. Reading @darren_cahill comments today makes it even more apparent to me. I hope it gets cleared up. 🙏
Cahill, who coached Simona Halep from 2016 to 2018, and again from 2019 to September 2021, had earlier backed the Romanian, unambiguously stating that there was "no chance Simona knowingly or purposely took any substance on the banned list. None. Zero."
Via an elaborate and uninhibited social media post, the Aussie coach divulged that the Romanian always insisted on checking multiple times before using a supplement or a prescribed substance.
"She is an athlete that stressed about anything prescribed to her by a medical professional (which was rarely), or about any supplement that she used or considered. Simona wore out the words 'please double check this, triple check this to make sure it’s legal, safe and permitted. If you are not sure, I’m not taking it'," Cahill wrote.
A passionate post from Darren Cahill in support of Simona Halep, whom he has coached for several years. https://t.co/ulnR08v1SD
Stubbs had earlier tweeted that she would reserve her thoughts on the matter until an investigation had been carried out.
Shocked with this @Simona_Halep news. I’ll reserve my thoughts until she has gone thru the process of investigating how it happened & how it ended up in her system. Shes never struck me as someone who would cheat to get ahead. Hope this is a mistake, If not, then this is terrible
"Hundred percent convinced that Simona Halep would never have done anything to to gain unfair advantage" - Former agent Virginia Ruzici
Simona Halep's friend and former agent Virginia Ruzici described the World No. 9 as a person of "impeccable sportsmanship, integrity and honesty," adding that she was "100% convinced that Simona would never have done anything to gain an unfair advantage."
"I have known Simona for a long time and worked with her for 14 years. In all this time, not only has she been an incredible athlete and champion but also a role model. Simona is a person of impeccable sportsmanship, integrity and honesty. I am deeply saddened by these developments and I am 100% convinced that Simona would never have done anything to gain an unfair advantage. I fully support Simona in her battle for truth and stand by her side," the 1978 French Open champion from Romania wrote.
Words of support from Simona’s friend and former agent Virginia Ruzici. https://t.co/TOLqSo4tjo
While revealing details of the failed drug test from a sample that was collected during the US Open, Simona Halep asserted that she would "fight for the truth."
https://t.co/bhS2B2ovzS