SEVEN months after her promising career as a professional tennis player was put on hold due to suspension by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), tennis star Valeria Bhunu has found her voice in hip hop music.
Bhunu was suspended from the sport for three years and three months, commencing on September 29, 2021 after testing positive for the banned substance mesterolone metabolite.
She, however, pleaded her innocence, insisting that she would never knowingly take a banned substance.
Bhunu noted that the extremely low concentration of Mesterolone metabolite that was detected in her sample (an estimated 0.11 ng/mL) was consistent with the positive test having been caused by a contamination event.
Ultimately despite her best efforts, the 28-year-old tennis player was unable to prove her innocence due to the prohibitive costs of the appeals process.
“The decision to drop the case was not an easy one, and it was heartbreaking to have to put my tennis career on hold in the midst of these allegations,” Bhunu said in an exclusive interview with The Sports Hub this week.
“However, the decision was ultimately based on financial considerations. My team had already invested a significant amount of money in the case, and the potential cost of continuing to fight was just not feasible for us, with the potential of being up to or beyond £100 000. As much as it was a difficult decision, it was the only one available. We made the difficult decision to drop the case and take on the full sentence. It was tough, but I could not accept a reduced sentence upon admitting guilt when I was innocent.”
After going through the difficult ordeal of being stopped from playing the sport which had become an important part of her life, Bhunu, who had two singles titles on the ITF World Tennis Tour circuit prior to the ban said music provided her with a medium to rediscover herself.
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“When I stopped playing tennis, I was forced to confront myself and remember who I was before sports became such a huge part of my life,” she said.
“Music stepped in as a way for me to rediscover myself and reconnect with my passion. I started going to the studio for the first time in my life, and it was like a part of me that had been dormant for so long was finally awakened.
“Since then, I've been immersed in music, working hard to hone my skills and develop my own unique sound.
"I'm grateful for every opportunity to create and perform, and I'm excited to see where this journey takes me. I do regret that it took me so long.”
Now going by the name Vaalé, Bhunu, who specialises in hip hop music released her first single titled "Mines," on April 3, which coincided with her birthday.
“Mines" is a drill track that speaks to the experience of taking back control of your life after facing challenging or unfair circumstances. The song is about rising up from adversity and reclaiming the power to take what is rightfully yours,” Bhunu said.
“In 'Mines,' I wanted to capture the feeling of determination and strength that comes with overcoming difficult obstacles. Digging deep within yourself to find the inner strength and resilience necessary to push through and overcome adversity. The song's message is one of empowerment, reminding listeners that no matter how tough the road ahead may seem, they have the power to take control of their own lives and shape their own destinies. Ultimately, “Mines” is a celebration of the human spirit and the resilience that we all possess, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.”
Although her focus now is on her budding music career, Bhunu will be eligible to compete in tennis again from December 28 2024. Does she see herself returning to the professional tennis circuit again?
“At this point, I can’t say for sure but I do remain open minded. Tennis is a sport that I am passionate about, but it requires a significant investment of time, energy, and finance,” she said.
“During my last run, I worked hard to make a comeback and achieved a ranking of 500 in the world in just a few months. It was difficult to see all of that hard effort go to waste.
“Unless I have the financial freedom to pursue tennis without worry, it may be necessary to put it on hold for the time being. However, I am staying in shape and keeping fit in case I decide to pursue tennis in the future.
“While music is a huge focus for me right now, I'm also exploring other opportunities and avenues. If there's one thing that the past year has taught me, it's to not limit myself to just one career path.
“At the moment, I'm pushing hard with my music career and working on creating and releasing new music. However, I'm also a certified fitness trainer and I'm completing my studies (she’s studying for a degree in business services and sustainability) , so I have a lot of other skills and interests that I'm passionate about.
“I want to maximise everything that I'm good at, and that means exploring different paths and seeing where they take me. I'm excited about the possibilities and I'm open to whatever comes my way. As for my tennis career, I'm not ruling anything out, but for now, my focus is on my music and exploring other opportunities,” she said.
