December 16, (THEWILL) – Simona Halep, former world number one tennis player, has cast doubts on whether she will return to the sport if her appeal against a four-year doping ban is unsuccessful. The Romanian was handed the suspension in September by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive for the prohibited substance roxadustat at the US Open.
Speaking in an interview this week, the 32-year-old said that if the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) upholds the ban when her case is heard next month, it could effectively end her career. “Four years is going to be a lot, for my age at least,” remarked Halep, who has dedicated 25 years to tennis. “It’s catastrophic if it’s going to be four years.”
Halep maintains her innocence, stating she “didn’t do” anything warranting the ban. However, she admits the chances of a successful appeal are slim. The former Wimbledon and French Open winner has been provisionally suspended since October 2022.
Looking ahead in the event she returns to competition, Halep said she dreams of competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. “Paris is my dream city,” she reflected, having won the junior Roland Garros title there. “I just want to be on court because that’s where I belong and I feel like I want to do it again.”
For now, Halep’s career hangs in the balance as she awaits the CAS ruling next month. If the ban is upheld, one of tennis’ most decorated players this century seems poised to reluctantly walk away from the sport for good.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
