Simona Halep acknowledged to the media that she can’t be revealing any details regarding her hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but underlined that she is “confident” that the verdict reached will be in her favor.
After testing positive for anti-anaemia drug Roxadustat and being provisionally suspended in 2022 October, Halep was slapped with a second anti-doping breach in 2023 May over “irregularities in her biological passport.” Throughout the entire process, Halep maintained her innocence but she was still found guilty and received a four-year doping ban in September.
Shortly after a four-year ban was announced for Halep, the two-time Grand Slam champion said she would take her case to the CAS and try to clear her name there. This week, Halep arrived in Switzerland as her hearing began on Wednesday in Lausanne and concluded on Friday.
Halep wasn’t able to address the media after the opening two days of her hearing but she was able to do so in some capacity on Friday.
“I can’t tell you absolutely anything about what happened at the hearing, but I can say that this hearing gave me the chance to present my defense,” Halep told reporters after exiting the courtroom.
Simona Halep© Getty Images Sport – Shaun Botterill
When Halep could learn her fate?
Now that Halep has presented her case at the CAS, it could take a month or even a couple of months before the verdict is reached. For Halep, this is the final destination – either she is going to be cleared and allowed to resume playing or her four-year doping ban will be upheld.
Considering that Halep’s ban started in 2022 October, her four-year ban would last through 2026 October. But since Halep is 32, upholding her four-year ban would very likely mean the end of her career.
Simona Halep© Getty Images Sport – Ryan Pierse
For Halep, the CAS decision is likely the deciding factor in whether she resumes her pro tennis career or retires.
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