The final verdict is pending in the doping case involving former tennis world number one Simona Halep, and the Romanian is confident that her ban will be lifted.
After a three-day hearing before the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), Halep said in a statement: “My faith in the strength of the truth remains intact. I look forward to returning to the tennis courts.”
The 32-year-old was banned for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) last year for two separate anti-doping rule violations.
The two-time Grand Slam winner has been out since October 2022 after a temporary ban. If the CAS does not come to a different conclusion than the ITIA, Halep will be banned until October 2026.
The banned substance roxadustat was detected in her blood. Roxadustat increases the number of red blood cells and, similar to Epo, leads to better oxygenation.
Finally, in May last year, she was charged with another anti-doping program violation related to irregularities in her athlete biological passport.
Halep claims she accidentally took a contaminated supplement. Roxadustat is used as an anti-anemia drug.