18-year-old Romanian tennis player Maria Sara Popa, who underwent training at Simona Halep’s former coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy, recently made allegations against the institution. She asserted that tennis players training there are provided with “substances” to consume during their junior years, following an alleged consent agreement.
Speaking with AS.ro, Popa disclosed her experience training at the Frenchman’s academy when she was 12 years old. She pointed out that junior tennis players, being less monitored by anti-doping agencies, are given these “substances” until they reach 17 years of age when doping tests become more frequent.
“I started when I was 12 years old at the Mouratoglou Academy. It’s true, athletes are provided with certain substances from a young age. In the junior category, there’s no Anti-doping control. They wait for you to mature a bit, until you’re 17, and then the checks become more rigorous,” Popa claimed.
Popa further mentioned that both the juniors and their parents are required to sign a consent agreement. She admitted feeling apprehensive when initially asked to do so.
“Athletes and parents have to give consent. They are given a form to sign, agreeing to take the substance. The first time, I was scared, I didn’t really understand what was happening,” she explained.
The 18-year-old also suggested that athletes who use illicit substances are often not caught because they know when to ingest and eliminate them.
“Some athletes take these substances, but they don’t get caught because they know exactly when to eliminate them and when to take them. Personally, I was tested weekly and never took anything. However, I cannot vouch for other athletes,” stated Simona Halep’s compatriot.
Popa distinguished between supplements and substances provided by physical trainers and doctors at the academies, asserting that supplements are regular daily pills that anyone can take.
