The International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) reduced the 4-year ban given to Romanian tennis player Simona Halep for violating doping rules to 9 months.
In the statement made by CAS, it was stated that Halep’s sentence was reduced after it was decided that she did not use the banned substance consciously.
Former world number 1 Halep, who has two grand slam titles in her career, will be able to return to tennis immediately as she has completed the 9-month period.
The International Tennis Integrity Unit (ITIA) sentenced Halep, who tested positive for the banned blood booster “roxadustat”, to 4 years, effective from October 2022.
The 32-year-old tennis player appealed to CAS, requesting that the ban be lifted or the period reduced.