Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has spoken about the mental and physical toll of her 2022 doping suspension in a recent interview. The Romanian tested positive for Roxadustat at the US Open that year.
Halep received a provisional suspension from the International Tennis Integrity Agency in 2022. The ITIA initially imposed a four-year ban in 2023, which the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced to nine months in March 2024 after ruling her actions were not intentional.
In comments to Eurosport, Halep described the period as one of significant strain. “There was a lot of mental exhaustion, a lot of physical wear and tear,” she said. She added that she holds no regrets, noting tennis provided her with lasting positive experiences.
Halep returned to competition at the 2024 Miami Open. She retired in 2025 following a first-round loss at the Transylvania Open in Romania.