Romanian tennis star Simona Halep’s doping sentence was reduced to nine months. Halep can immediately return to the playing courts.
The former world number one player in tennis Simona Halep the doping verdict has changed. The four-year doping ban previously imposed on the Romanian has been shortened to nine months.
With the decision of the International Court of Appeal for Sport (CAS), Halep is free to return to the courts immediately. This is reported by, among others, the British Broadcasting Company BBC.
The 32-year-old Halep had been caught for blood doping. His test sample contained roxadustat, which is banned in sports. Later, Halep was charged with a new doping violation related to ambiguities in her biological athlete passport.
CAS states in its decision that Halep did not violate the doping rules on purpose. Furthermore, CAS states in its decision that roxadustat ended up in the athlete’s body through a contaminated nutritional supplement.
Two-time Grand Slam winner Halep has maintained her innocence throughout the process. Halep celebrated winning the French Open in 2018 and Wimbledon in 2019.