- Halep’s suspension reduced to nine months
- Did not intentionally dope
- Cleared to resume tennis career
Following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) that Simona Halep did not commit intentional doping, her four-year doping suspension was reduced to nine months. She will be granted permission to resume her professional tennis career promptly.
Halep, a former world No. 1 and two-time grand slam champion, was suspended for testing positive for roxadustat in September of last year. The verdict constituted the first anti-doping rule violation in the annals of tennis and one of the most consequential prohibitions against doping through the Athlete Biological Passport (ABP) programme. A four-year suspension would have put an end to Halep’s career at the age of 32.
Halep was found guilty by an independent tribunal of two distinct anti-doping rule violations: the first was for the blood-boosting substance roxadustat, which was detected in a test conducted on August 29, 2022, subsequent to her elimination in the first round of the US Open; the second was for irregularities discovered in her athlete biological passport. Halep promptly filed an appeal with Cas regarding the charges.
Halep’s Ban Reduced After Appeal
Following a hearing of Halep’s case in Lausanne from February 7-9, the Cas tribunal unanimously decided to reduce her period of ineligibility to nine months. Halep maintained, as in her initial case, that the anti-doping rule violation was unintentional and that the roxadustat had entered her system via the ingestion of the tainted supplement Keto MCT.
Although the initial ruling concluded that the Keto MCT sample inadequately accounted for the roxadustat concentration in Halep’s blood, the Cas panel concluded that although she did not handle the Keto MCT supplement with adequate care, her violations of anti-doping regulations were not deliberate. She did not bear substantial liability or negligence.
“This adversity has served as an illustration of perseverance,” Halep stated on Instagram. “The triumph of truth is a bittersweet vindication that is exceptionally gratifying, despite being delayed.”
Halep Cleared of Doping Charge
In contrast to the initial tribunal, the Cas panel admitted the results of a blood sample that Halep had provided on September 9, 2022, for an unrelated surgery during the proceedings pertaining to the ABP allegation. The Cas panel further noted Halep’s public declaration that she would not be competing again until 2022 following the surgery, which “impacted the plausibility of the doping scenarios relied upon by the ITF independent tribunal,” according to them.
“Invest in your future with Webull UK – get started with free shares.”
The Cas panel rejected the ABP charge, concluding that they were not sufficiently convinced that Halep’s aberrant blood parameter readings constituted a violation of anti-doping regulations. Halep issued the following statement: “The scandalous accusations levied against me and the seemingly limitless resources that were arrayed against me put my faith in the process to the test. “I eagerly anticipate my return to the tour.”
Karen Moorhouse, chief executive officer of the International Tennis Integrity Agency, stated: “A player’s ability to appeal is a crucial component of the anti-doping process, and the ITIA upholds both their right to do so and the decision that is reached.” We eagerly anticipate the comprehensive rationale for the decision and shall diligently examine it at the appropriate moment.”
