Halep cleared
Immediate return to tennis after doping ban cut
Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, has been cleared to immediately return to tennis following her doping ban appeal, according to the highest court in sports.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport has stated that its judges have partially granted Halep’s appeal. This reduced her four-year ban to just nine months, which was applied retroactively and expired last July.
The three judges have concluded that Halep has “established, on the balance of probabilities,” that the positive test for a banned blood-boosting substance was due to “the consumption of a contaminated supplement.”
After being banned due to a positive test at the 2022 U.S. Open, Halep has not played tennis. If the ban had not been reduced, she would have been ineligible to play until October 2026 after her 35th birthday.
raymond johnson on Twitter: “The Queen is back! Woohoo! Best news ever! #SimonaHalep pic.twitter.com/nKDAydR75i / Twitter”
The Queen is back! Woohoo! Best news ever! #SimonaHalep pic.twitter.com/nKDAydR75i
Career Highlights
SINGLES
Winner (24): 2022 – Melbourne [250], Toronto; 2020 – Dubai, Prague, Rome; 2019 – Wimbledon; 2018 – Shenzhen, Roland Garros, Montréal; 2017 – Madrid; 2016 – Madrid, Bucharest, Montréal; 2015 – Shenzhen, Dubai, Indian Wells; 2014 – Doha, Bucharest; 2013 – Nürnberg, ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Budapest, New Haven, Moscow, Sofia.
Finalist (18): 2021 – Cluj-Napoca; 2019 – Doha, Madrid; 2018 – Australian Open, Rome, Cincinnati; 2017 – Rome, Roland Garros, Cincinnati, Beijing; 2015 – Toronto, Cincinnati; 2014 – Madrid, Roland Garros, WTA Finals; 2012 – Brussels; 2011 – Fès; 2010 – Fès.
DOUBLES
Winner (1): 2018 – Shenzhen (w/Begu).
Finalist (1): 2016 – Montréal (w/Niculescu).
ADDITIONAL
Romanian Fed Cup Team, 2010, 2012, 2014-19; Romanian Olympic Team, 2012.