Two-time grand slam champion’s suspension shortened to nine months following appeal

In a significant development, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled that Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is cleared to resume her tennis career after her doping ban was reduced. The decision, announced on Tuesday, overturns Halep’s initial four-year suspension, allowing her to return to competitive play immediately.

Halep’s ban stemmed from two separate anti-doping code violations, but the CAS justices determined that her culpability was not sole, leading to a reduction in her suspension period to nine months. The retroactive application of the ban was concluded in July of the previous year.

The 32-year-old Romanian was initially suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for the prohibited substance roxadustat during the United States Open. Additionally, irregularities in her athlete biological passport (ABP) led to accusations of another doping offence the following year.

Simona Halep vehemently denied the allegations, attributing her positive test result to contaminated supplements. Despite accepting her explanation, an independent panel found that her dietary intake was insufficient to produce the level of roxadustat detected in her sample. However, the panel determined that Halep bore some responsibility for not being more vigilant in her supplement use.

The decision to reduce Halep’s ban was also influenced by her declaration not to compete for the remainder of the year, as well as the timing of the sample collection, which occurred shortly after surgery.

The CAS ruling marks the conclusion of a contentious chapter in Halep’s career, allowing her to return to the sport she loves with her reputation restored.