Former world number 1 Simona Halep has been suspended from tennis for taking roxadustat, a prohibited substance, know about its uses in sports
Know more about it, including its uses and side effects.
Simona Halep, a former world number one and Romanian tennis star, has been provisionally banned from the sport after failing a drug test. Halep gave her sample during the US Open in August 2022, which has now been found to be positive for roxadustat, a prohibited substance. On Friday, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a statement confirming this.
What is Roxadustat Drug, Its Uses In Sports And Side Effects As Simona Halep Is Banned For Taking It
BREAKING: Two-time tennis grand slam champion Simona Halep has failed a doping test at the US Open.
The world number nine tested positive for the anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat and has been provisionally suspended. pic.twitter.com/B0fyAqWgHz
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 21, 2022
“Simona Halep, a 31-year-old Romanian tennis player, has been temporarily suspended in accordance with Article 7.12.1 of the 2022 Tennis Anti-Doping Program, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) (TADP). On October 7, 2022, the ITIA notified the player of a potential charge for violating Articles 2.1 and/or 2.2 of the Program (presence of a Prohibited Substance in a Player’s Sample) (Use of a Prohibited Substance without a valid TUE).”
Simona Halep is presently ranked ninth in the world and is the highest-profile tennis player to fail a drug test since Maria Sharapova six years ago. Halep won the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019 but was forced to withdraw from the season last month due to nose surgery.
Simona Halep Twitter Post
— Simona Halep (@Simona_Halep) October 21, 2022
What is Roxadustat and what are its uses?
Roxadustat is an oral medication that is used to treat anaemia caused by chronic kidney disease. It is the first of a new class of drugs known as HIF-PH inhibitors (prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors), which boost erythropoiesis, or red blood cell synthesis, by better iron absorption and mobilisation, increased endogenous erythropoietin production, and hepcidin downregulation.
Due to its potential use in athletic doping and the fact that athletes have previously been caught taking it illegally despite it not yet having obtained medical clearance, it has been included in testing for performance-enhancing drugs.
What are the side effects of Roxadustat?
The most prevalent adverse events with roxadustat and the placebo were, respectively, ESKD, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and hypertension. Other side effects include nausea, elevated blood potassium levels, and swelling, particularly in the ankles and feet.