Grand Slam champion Simona Halep banned from competition for anti-doping violations

Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam tennis champion, has been suspended from competing for four years for violating anti-doping policies, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced Tuesday.

Halep, 31, is accused of two separate breaches of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the use of roxadustat, a prohibited substance; and irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport, which is used to monitor a player's biological variables over time, the organization said.

Roxadustat is often used to treat anemia, but is prohibited in the sport because it increases hemoglobin and the production of red blood cells, the ITIA explained in its statement.