Simona Halep has issued a staunch response to Caroline Wozniacki's criticism of the Miami Open giving the Romanian athlete a wild card after returning from her doping ban.
Halep had not played on the WTA Tour since the 2022 US Open when she lost in the first round having tested positive for the use of banned substance roxadustat.
The former world No 1 ended up being banned for four years, but she successfully appealed the decision and it was reduced to nine months.
It meant the 32-year-old was able to return to tennis as soon as possible after the Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that the positive test of roxadustat came from a 'contaminated supplement' and her violations of the anti-doping rules were 'not intentional.
Simona Halep insists she didn't cheat
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The Miami Open decided to give Halep a wild card for the two-time major champion to make her hotly-anticipated return.
The match against Paula Badosa ended in defeat for Halep with the tie going to a deciding set.
Wozniacki was asked about Halep's return to the sport in her press conference she defeated Clara Burlel and took exception to wild cards being handed out to players who had tested positive for doping.
"I understand why a tournament wants a big star in the tournament but it's my personal belief, and it's not a knock on anyone, but it's my personal belief that I don't think people should be awarded cards after [testing positive for doping]," Wozniacki said.
"If you want to come back, and it's been a mistake, I understand. [But] you should work your way up from the bottom.
"That's my personal opinion on things." Halep appeared taken aback by Wozniacki's 'negative' comments and defended herself.
"I didn't do anything wrong. I didn't cheat. I didn't dope," she said.
Simona Halep lost to Caroline Wozniacki in three sets
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"It's better if we read the decision from CAS that it was a contaminated supplement, it was not doping.
"I never had something to do with doping. I never doped, so I'm not a cheater.
"Thank you to the tournament for giving me the wild card and the possibility to play in such a big tournament. It was great to be back.
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Caroline Wozniacki feels players banned for doping shouldn't be given wild cards
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"Only one person being negative about me is not that important because I have hundreds of people who are giving me love, so I will take that."
Halep will have her eyes on competing at the French Open having won her first major at Roland Garros back in 2018.
But she'll likely need to rely on more wild card entries for the next few tournaments as she looks to build up her ranking.
