ITIA announces final decisions in Simona Halep doping case, Roxadustat intake

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The ITIA has published the final decisions that the independent tribunal reached in the Simona Halep doping case and one paragraph claims the Romanian's Roxadustat intake "was intentional." On Tuesday, the ITIA said in a statement that the independent tribunal found Halep guilty of committing two anti-doping violations.

Halep, a two-time Grand Slam champion, was handed a four-year ban from tennis. After provisionally suspending Halep in October because she tested positive for Roxadustat, the ITIA also hit the Romanian with a second charge in May "over irregularities in athlete's biological passport."

The full decisions in the Halep doping case

*A conclusion that the player’s Anti-Doping Rule Violation regarding roxadustat was intentional.

*A conclusion that the panel was “comfortably satisfied” the player had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation as a result of their Athlete Biological Passport data. *A finding that standard information was shared with the experts who are part of WADA’s independent Athlete Biological Passport Unit and the experts’ knowledge of the player’s identity did not impact on their view of the Athlete Biological Passport data.

*A statement from the panel that “Ms Halep is certainly not responsible for any delay in the hearing and determination of this case. However, despite the Player’s repeated protestations to the contrary, neither is the ITIA nor anyone else involved.

*The panel’s determination that “aggravating circumstances” did not apply in this case and its decision was to sanction the player for four years, backdated from the start of their Provisional Suspension (7 October 2022).

In a statement released shortly after the ITIA announcement on Tuesday, Halep maintained her innocence and highlighted once again that she feels the entire process hasn't been conducted properly or fairly.

Halep has a chance to appeal the decision and she announced she plans to take the case to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).