Gamers banned for doping mustn’t obtain wildcards on their return, says Caroline Wozniacki, after Simona Halep was overwhelmed on her comeback in Miami.
Two-time main champion Halep, 32, misplaced 1-6 6-4 6-3 to Paula Badosa in her first match since a four-year doping ban – later diminished to 9 months.
Halep was given a wildcard for Miami however Wozniacki stated such gamers “ought to work their manner from the underside”.
“I’ve at all times wished a clear sport, honest for everyone,” Wozniacki stated.
“This isn’t immediately at Simona, but when somebody purposely cheats, if somebody has examined optimistic for doping, I do not assume individuals ought to be awarded wildcards afterwards.”
The Dane added: “If you wish to come again and it has been a mistake, I perceive, however you must work your manner up from the underside.”
Wildcards are awarded by tournaments to gamers whose rating is just not excessive sufficient for direct qualification.
Romanian Halep was provisionally suspended on the US Open in September 2022 after testing optimistic for the usage of roxadustat – an anti-anaemia drug that stimulates the manufacturing of pink blood cells within the physique.
Halep has at all times maintained her innocence and stated the accusations had been “scandalous”.
Whereas her case was partially upheld on enchantment by the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (Cas), it was dominated Halep “on the stability of chances” had not taken roxadustat deliberately.
Responding to former world primary Wozniacki’s feedback, Halep stated: “I did not do something unsuitable. I did not cheat. I did not dope.
“So it is higher if we learn the choice from Cas that it was a contaminated complement, it wasn’t doping.
“I by no means had one thing to do with doping. I by no means doped, so I am not a cheater.
“Just one particular person being unfavourable about me is just not that vital as a result of I’ve a whole lot of folks that giving me love, so I’ll take that.”
Halep impressively raced by the primary set in opposition to former world quantity two Badosa, of Spain, however struggled to take care of these ranges.
With the French Open working between 26 Might and 9 June, Halep is trying to construct up time on the courtroom.
Halep received the French Open in 2018 and lifted the Wimbledon title in 2019.
Elsewhere on the Miami Open, 43-year-old Venus Williams, a three-time winner of the occasion, was overwhelmed 6-3 6-3 by 19-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider.
