Simona Halep’s former coach says ‘no chance’ the two-time grand slam champion knowingly took banned substance
LONDON — Wimbledon champion Simona Halep and former coach Tony Roche have both denied ever taking illegal substance that led to her winning the Wimbledon title in 2012.
Halep and Roche were among the four named in an investigation by the U.K. Anti-Doping Authority into the 2012 Australian Open title. All four are British and live in London.
Halep and Roche have denied knowingly taking banned substances that were on her banned list. Roche said his former mistress was “determined to win” Wimbledon. The pair were not named in the charges in March.
In an interview last month with The Times of London, Roche said Halep had the “full support” of his family.
He told the newspaper that Halep was “determined” to win Wimbledon.
“This was a fight for love of the game, a fight for life and a fight for sport. I would describe it as a fight for life,” Roche said.
“Obviously she was determined to win. I have no doubt, because she wanted to win. I have no doubt that she wanted to win.”
Halep has said she has denied any wrongdoing and will defend her title against former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.
A spokesman for the DPA said in March the four women who were named in the investigation were cleared of any wrongdoing.
The agency also said it was investigating Halep and her former coaches for the violation of anti-doping regulations. A spokesman for the agency declined to comment on Roche’s comments when reached by telephone on Tuesday.
“There are a few women, the same four that we were discussing, as well as the DPA, who are going to investigate that so we can get to the bottom of it,” Halep said.
“As a tennis player you have to follow the rules when you are a competitor. If you are a coach, you have to follow the rules when you are a player; that’s fair. You have to respect the people you are dealing with.
“That’s the same thing to do when someone is telling you something about yourself. When I have talked to my team, my coaches and even Tony Roche, he didn’t tell me anything. He didn’t say anything.”
