Simona Halep, former world number 1 tennis player, saw her suspension for doping reduced from 4 years to 9 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Testing positive for Roxadustat during the 2022 US Open, Halep appealed the ITF's initial decision by proving that this result was due to contamination of a collagen-based food supplement. The CAS recognized the absence of significant fault on the part of the player and rejected the accusations linked to her biological passport. This decision allows Halep to return to competition immediately, her suspension having already been served. However, all results obtained between August 29 and October 7, 2022 remain canceled.
Simona Halep, from positive test to initial suspension for doping
Simona Halep, former world number 1 tennis player, faced a difficult situation when a doping test carried out on August 29, 2022, during the US Open, revealed the presence of Roxadustat, a banned substance (See article from the newspaper L'Équipe of March 6, 2024: "Why Simona Halep's suspension was greatly reduced")
Despite her initial defense against doping charges, the Independent Tribunal of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) found her guilty of two anti-doping rule violations and imposed a four-year suspension (see CAS press release -CAS of March 5, 2024)
Interview with Simona HALEP after her hearing at the TAS (February 2024)
Simona Halep's defense arguments before the CAS
Halep appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), requesting a reduction in the sanction. His lawyers made two key arguments:
- Contamination of a food supplement as the cause of the positive control. According to Professor Jean-Claude Alvarez, an expert in toxicology requested by Halep, Roxadustat was detected 18 times in a collagen powder from the Quantum Nutrition brand (extract of the article from the newspaper L’Équipe of March 6, 2024: “Why Simona Halep's suspension was greatly reduced") This contamination would explain the result of the control.
- Simona Halep's due diligence in the use of dietary supplements. The player argued that she had taken all necessary precautions to avoid contamination, emphasizing her commitment to maintaining a clean sporting career (excerpt from a ScienceDirect article from April 28, 2024: "Contamination of food supplements in a doping context").
The CAS, a reference institution in the settlement of sports disputes (CAS CAS Bulletin, 1 / 2013), considered these arguments during a three-day hearing in February 2024.
The CAS decision and its implications for Simona Halep
Excerpts from the TAS-CAS press release of March 5, 2024
The Halep case highlights the challenges related to involuntary doping in sport and underlines the importance of rigorous management of dietary supplements by athletes (See Mysportscience article: "Contamination of nutritional supplements"). It also recalls the crucial role of the CAS in resolving complex sports disputes.
