Former world No 1 Simona Halep has revealed it was “like a truck hit” her when she initially discovered she had failed a drugs test.

A French Open and Wimbledon champion, Halep’s career was thrown into major controversy in 2022 when it was announced that she had tested positive for Roxadustat at the US Open.

In one of the biggest doping scandals to hit tennis, the Romanian was initially banned for four years, which would have all but ended her playing career.

But her suspension was reduced to nine months on appeal earlier this year, and she made her return to the tour at the Miami Open after it was ruled she had not initially doped.

Halep has opened up in an interview with Tennis Channel about her ordeal, which will be released later this month.

But in a teaser clip, she described the “big pain” she felt when she discovered the violation.
“Oh, like a truck hit you,” she said.

“And when I received the email, it was like, ‘It’s a mistake. It cannot be true, this one.’ Yeah, it was a really big pain when this happened, and I never thought that I can live something like this.

To the fans, players, WTA and @MiamiOpen tournament staff, thank you for making my comeback so special pic.twitter.com/GWeV1m8rQ6

— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) March 20, 2024

“It was really, really difficult. Firstly because I didn’t know how it happened. And then when I discovered the contaminated supplement, it was a little bit better because you know what happened at least.

“But yeah, still, it was a disaster to live that emotion.”

One of the most decorated players in recent times, with 67 weeks as world No 1, Halep’s return has been controversial, with debates about whether she should be allowed Wildcards or not continue to rage.

But, disappointingly for the 32-year-old, it has been a stop-start comeback so far.

Halep lost in round one of the Miami Open to Paula Badosa in her first match back and has not played since then.

She withdrew from Romania’s Billie Jean King Cup tie against Ukraine, and then also announced she was not ready to play at the Madrid Open – where she had received a Wildcard, as a two-time former winner.

There has been no confirmation as to whether Halep would receive a Wildcard for next week’s Italian Open – or if she would accept one if offered – while there has also been no news about the French Open.

Champion in 2018 and runner-up in 2014 and 2017, Roland Garros is a tournament she would likely love to play.