Picture Credit: X
The two-time Grand Slam champion, Simona Halep on Tuesday, March 5 was cleared to return to competitive tennis after she was cleared of her doping ban by the highest sports court, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The court announced that Halep was not entirely at fault for her positive doping test at the 2022 US Open.
The CAS thus lifted the allegations of suspected doping cheating from the Romanian international. Three judges from the bench ruled Halep had “on the balance of probabilities” that showed her positive test for a banned blood boosting substance was intentional and caused by a contaminated substance.
“The CAS Panel has unanimously determined that the four-year period of ineligibility imposed by the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Independent Tribunal is to be reduced to a period of ineligibility of nine (9) months starting on 7 October 2022, which period expired on 6 July 2023,” CAS said in its statement.
T he 32-year-old was initially banned for four years due to two separate anti-doping code infractions. But after proving her appeal, Simona Halep’s ban has now been reduced to nine months from four years, which ended on 6 July 2023.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) also took to social media to acknowledge the CAS’ decision on Simona Halep. “The International Tennis Integrity Agency acknowledges today’s decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case of Romanian tennis player Simona Halep,” it read on X.
I cannot wait to return to the tour: Simona Halep reacts
The 32-year-old Romanian tennis player opened up after she won the battle against her doping ban. “I cannot wait to return to the tour,” Halep said in a statement released by her lawyer, Howard Jacobs. Furthermore, the two-time Grand Slam champion took to Instagram to express her joy and relief, calling it a “pivotal moment”.
“Today marks a pivotal moment, as the tribunal has rendered its verdict, affirming my stance and bringing clarity to this chapter,” she began her message. “This ordeal has been a testament to resilience, and the triumph of truth is a bittersweet vindication that, albeit delayed, is immensely gratifying,” she further added.
The 32-year-old also expressed gratitude towards her legal team, fans, competitors among many other as she also expressed her joy to rejoin the tour.
