Simona Halep’s former coach says ‘no chance’ the two-time grand slam champion knowingly took banned substance while winning Wimbledon
Halep’s former coach, Julien Macdonald, feels that in all likelihood she did not take any banned substances at Wimbledon
The former coach of Simona Halep has said that there is no chance that the Wimbledon champion knew anything about the banned substance when she announced her comeback in March.
Julien Macdonald, who coached Halep over the past two years, told France’s Le10Sport last Friday that the 28-year-old’s decision to return to tennis was based on her love for the sport.
“It is hard to believe that she could have taken this [drug] without knowing that it was banned. It’s obvious,” Macdonald told Le10Sport.
“You can ask around and find the answer, but it would be impossible to prove it because it’s such a long time ago. It’s been two years since she stopped. And if she had no problem before, she has no problem after. I have no doubts. The only thing that makes me doubt is that she is so young and she has everything to make a mistake.
“It is hard to believe that she could have taken this [drug] without knowing that it was banned. It’s obvious.”
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 in London on Saturday morning, British tennis player and broadcaster Kim Clijsters described the recent controversy over Halep as “absurd” and that it was “a conspiracy to tarnish the brand” of tennis.
Clijsters also described Halep as “a great personality” who has “always wanted to be a tennis player” and that she was no threat to tennis.
On Thursday, Halep was banned from attending Wimbledon for 12 months after becoming embroiled in a doping scandal during the women�
