A trade union called the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) said through a statement published on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that Simona Halep’s victory at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (reducing the suspension from 4 years to 9 months) does not make up for lost time.

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“As we have stated in our principles, the PTPA strongly supports all player processes, the right to appeal and access to a fair and logical anti-doping system.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to reduce Simona Halep’s suspension from four years to nine months highlights the need for sensible reform of an unfair system that fails to protect these rights.

Simona already had 17 months of temporary disqualification and loss of rating, prize money, reputation, as well as other irreparable damages. Her victory in the appeal does not make up for lost time,” the statement said.

The union said it has worked with Simona and her legal team over the past year and will continue to support her return to competition, Agerpres reports.

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“We remain committed to working with the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) and forcing logical improvements and greater accountability to a process that continues to demonstrate its enormous flaws. A fairer and more logical system must be implemented for the benefit of all,” concluded the PTPA trade union.

The legendary Billie Jean King also reacted on the mentioned social network to the news about the reduction of Simona Halep’s suspension: “This is great news. I’m so happy for @Simona_Halep.”

French tennis player Alize Cornet commented: “The only possible outcome of this whole scandal. Welcome back, Simone.”

According to the decision of the TAC, Simona Halep can immediately return to the tennis court, and the first tournament in which she could play (at least in theory) is the Miami Open of the WTA 1000 category, which will be held on March 19-31.

However, to be able to take part, Simona needs a wild card as she has disappeared from the WTA rankings after so many months of absence.

According to Tuesday’s decision, Simona’s suspension expired on July 6, 2023, after which Halep could theoretically return to the WTA tournament.

What you need to know about Simona Halep’s doping case

• The news that Simona Halep was temporarily suspended for doping appeared on Friday, October 21, 2022.

• Simona’s case was heard by Sport Resolutions, an independent tribunal in London that hears doping cases in white sport.

• Halep was suspended for 4 years for two separate violations of the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP): the presence and use of the substance roxadustat in a urine sample collected after an anti-doping test conducted at the 2022 US Open (1) and a violation of her biological passport (2).

• Halep was heard at the CAS on February 7-9, 2024.

• The Swiss court said that the ex-leader of the WTA asked to cancel the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and “reduce” its sanctions.

• On August 29, 2022, Simona Halep played her last official match on the world circuit. At the US Open, in the inaugural round, our athlete unexpectedly defeated Daria Snigur (at that time, 124th place in the WTA, based on the qualification).

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