On the Serving Aces podcast, Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdiere talked about Simona Halep’s recent doping scandal. As a former player, Stevenson advised anybody listening to make sure they take extra precautions regarding what you are putting in your body.
“The whole thing is still mind-boggling to me because she handed over everything over to her coach, her nutrition, her training, her trust,” said Stevenson. “She handed over her whole athletic being to Mouratoglou’s team. Now, was that smart? No, of course, that wasn’t smart, because, at the end of the day, the player is responsible.”
Simona Halep maintains her innocence and claims that if she does not win her appeal, it will end her career. The two-time Grand Slam champion claims she was unaware of any performance-enhancing drugs in her body and that she doesn’t know “if (she) can trust again.”
“At the end of the day, she still took whatever she took, and that is what I have a hard time as an athlete reconciling with,” said Stevenson.
Halep faces a four-year ban that would keep her from competing until 2026.