A $10 Million Lawsuit: Halep Doesn't Give Up in Her Doping Case
Suspended for doping between 2022 and 2024, Simona Halep is still in dispute with Quantum Nutrition, the company that produced the nutritional supplement that led to her suspension.
Halep is fighting for the truth to come to light. The Romanian champion, who retired in February, did not have the career ending she would have liked. Suspended for four years for doping after the 2022 US Open due to a positive test for roxadustat, the former world number 1 later had her suspension reduced to nine months in early 2024, allowing her to return at the WTA 1000 in Miami last year.
Subsequently, a series of shoulder and knee injuries forced her to retire in Cluj-Napoca in early February, after a heavy defeat to Lucia Bronzetti (6-1, 6-1).
Nevertheless, the former professional player, who will turn 34 on September 27, is not giving up in the dispute with the Canadian company Quantum Nutrition, which produced the nutritional supplement based on Schinoussa, a protein powder that enhances endurance.
In her defense, the two-time Grand Slam champion maintained that she had never consumed any products banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and that Quantum Nutrition was responsible for the situation due to negligence regarding the product, which had been considered legal by the North American company.
Thus, a few months ago, Halep initiated legal proceedings against Quantum Nutrition, seeking $10 million in damages in this case. Halep's lawyers have counterattacked in recent hours and are demanding more evidence from the company. They have spoken out for the first time since the case began.
"Throughout this time, the defendants have continued to guarantee the quality of their products. The defendant Schinoussa guaranteed that the supplement contained marine collagen peptides from the Pacific Ocean, from a clean and environmentally friendly source.
In reality, Keto MCT allegedly contained ingredients of unknown Chinese origin, which contained Roxadustat, a substance not listed on the label.
Like most elite athletes, Ms. Halep was accustomed to using nutritional supplements, when necessary, to support the intensity of her training. In August 2022, Ms. Halep used Schinoussa Keto Boost electrolytes, Keto MCT with marine collagen, and New Zealand protein powder.
Although she never used banned substances, after taking the Schinoussa-based supplements, the urine sample of the plaintiff Simona Halep tested positive for Roxadustat on August 29. Subsequent tests confirmed that Schinoussa Keto MCT was contaminated with Roxadustat, which was not indicated on the label.
Following this test, the plaintiff Simona Halep was suspended from international tournaments and is seeking $10 million in damages," can be read in the complaint from Halep's lawyers, according to statements collected by Golazo.
Now, in this dispute that began over three years ago, the ball is in Quantum Nutrition's court, which will have to provide new evidence in the coming weeks to move the case forward.
