Former No. 1 Halep gets provisional drug ban
Two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep was provisionally suspended by the International Tennis Integrity Agency after failing a drug test during the U.S. Open in August.
The ITIA announced the punishment for Halep, a former No. 1 player who is currently No. 9 in the WTA rankings. She won Wimbledon in 2019, beating 23time major champion Serena Williams in the final, and the French Open in 2018.
In a social media post, Halep called the news of her positive test “the biggest shock of my life,” adding: “Facing such an unfair situation, I feel completely confused and betrayed.”
The ITIA said Halep tested positive in New York for the banned substance Roxadustat, a drug approved for medical use in the European Union to treat the symptoms of anemia caused by chronic kidney failure.
During a provisional suspension, a tennis player is ineligible to compete in, or attend, any sanctioned events.
Figure skating RUSSIAN AGENCY WON’T PUBLISH DOPING VERDICT IN VALIEVA CASE >>
The Russian Anti-Doping Agency will treat the Kamila Valieva doping case which shook figure skating at the Winter Olympics as confidential and won’t publish a verdict.
Valieva won Olympic gold in the team competition before finding out she tested positive for a banned substance before the Beijing Games. She appealed a provisional suspension and was allowed to skate in the women’s individual event and placed fourth. The investigation has continued in Russia since then.
RUSADA referred to the skater’s status as a “protected person” under antidoping rules. That status applied to Valieva, since she was under 16 at the time she gave the sample.
It’s unclear what the RUSADA announcement could mean for other skaters waiting on the verdict. No medal ceremony was held in Beijing for the team event because of the uncertainty around whether Valieva was eligible to compete. The U.S. won silver, Japan bronze, and Canada was fourth.
NFL
COACH SALEH: JETS’ MOORE TO SIT VS. BRONCOS, WON’T BE TRADED >> Disgruntled wide receiver Elijah Moore will sit out the New York Jets’ game Sunday against the Denver Broncos after requesting to be traded amid frustration over his lack of playmaking opportunities.
Coach Robert Saleh said “trading him is not an option,” but Moore will not be with the team in Denver as the Jets — at 4-2 and off to their best start since 2015 — look for a fourth straight victory.
Moore, a second-round pick out of Mississippi who had 43 catches as a rookie last year, will go through workouts with trainers over the next few days and rejoin the team Monday. STEELERS QB PICKETT CLEARS CONCUSSION PROTOCOL, WILL START >> Pittsburgh
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett will start on Sunday night against Miami after being released from the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Pickett, the 20th overall pick in the draft, left last week’s upset win over Tampa Bay in the third quarter after being knocked legally to the ground by Buccaneers linebacker Devin White. Doctors gave Pickett the OK to practice this week without limitations and he will make his third career start when Pittsburgh (2-4) visits the Dolphins (3-3). RAVENS RULE OUT DOBBINS >> Baltimore running back J.K. Dobbins has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns because of his knee injury.
Dobbins has played four games since returning from the knee injury that kept him out all last season, but he had only seven carries in last weekend’s loss to the New York Giants.
Golf ANDREA LEE TAKES 2-SHOT LEAD IN WONJU >>
Andrea Lee shot another bogey-free round of 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead of the BMW Ladies Championship.
Lee had two birdies on the front nine of the second round before wrapping up another impressive day with back-to-back birdies on the last two holes for 12-under 132 overall.
Overnight leader Atthaya Thitikul (71), Lilia Vu (66) and 16-year-old amateur Minsol Kim (70) shared a three-way tie for second place.