The Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed Tuesday that former No. 1 tennis player Simona Halep asked the body to overturn her four-year ban for doping violations.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency originally imposed a provisional suspension last October over a failed drug test at the 2022 U.S. Open tournament and irregularities in Halep’s Athlete Biological Passport. In September it decided to uphold the ban.
Halep claims these were due to contaminated nutritional supplements, and stated she would pursue legal action against the supplement company.
“I am continuing to train and do everything in my power to clear my name of these false allegations and return to the court,” Halep stated in response to the initial charges in May.
“I take the rules that govern our sport very seriously and take pride in the fact I have never knowingly or intentionally used any prohibited substance. I refused to accept their decision of a four-year ban.”
Originally from Romania, Halep first hit No. 1 in 2017, and went on to win two Grand Slam titles in the 2018 French Open and the 2019 Wimbledon Championships.
The drug she is accused of taking is Roxadustat, which stimulates the body’s production of the hormone erythropoietin. It is typically used by cyclists and runners.
The CAS has not given a timetable for the decision. If it remains in place, Halep’s ban will end on Oct. 6, 2026.
