By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Friday, February 9, 2024
Speaking outside of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, Simona Halep said she's confident her appeal of a four-year doping ban will be successful.
Photo credit: Vaughn Ridley/Getty
Simona Halep is optimistic her appeal of her four-year doping ban will produce positive results.
Former world No. 1 Halep has been provisionally suspended since October of 2022 on two separate doping violations. She spoke about the case outside of the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne, Switzerland today.
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The 32-year-old Halep tested positive for the banned drug Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open. Roxadustat is legitimately used for the treatment of anaemia but is on the WADA Prohibited Substance list as a blood doping agent, which increases hemoglobin and the production of red blood cells. It has been used by middle distance and long-distance runners in the past.
In May of 2023, Halep was hit with a further and separate breach of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program, relating to irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport.
The two-time Grand Slam champion adamantly denies intentionally doping and calls her suspension "insane."
"They judged me on scenarios," Halep told Front Office Sports. "There is no proof. It's just insane."
Speaking to the media today outside of the Court of Arbitration for Sport where her appeal is underway, Halep expressed confidence in her case.
"I had the chance to show my defense and I really believe that the truth is going to come out and the day to be on court is going to be soon," Halep told the media in comments published by Reuters.
Halep's suspension will run from October 7, 2022 until October 6, 2026 unless she wins a reduced suspension in this appeal.
Read the complete 126-page ITIA vs. Simona Halep decision in the case here.
In the initial ruling against the Romanian superstar, an independent tribunal accepted Halep's explanation of a contaminated supplement, but found "likely doping" as the cause of her failing drug tests.
In her appeal, Halep is asking the Court of Arbitration for Sport to set aside the Tribunal's decision and reduce her suspension.
In accordance with CAS procedures, a panel of arbitrators heard Halep's appeal this week.
Following the hearing, the panel will deliberate and issue an Arbitral Award containing its decision and the grounds for it.
"At this time, it is not possible to indicate a time frame for the issuance of the decision," the CAS said in a statement. "The CAS Panel’s decision will be final and binding, with the exception of the parties’ right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds."