Halep lost to Badosa in Miami in her first match after the doping scandal

Former world number one Simona Halep played her first match after the doping scandal.

The Romanian performed at WTA 1000 V Miamiwhere in the opening match she lost in three sets to the representative of Spain Paula Badose. The three-set match lasted exactly two hours. Simona confidently took the first game – 6:1. However, Badosa managed to turn the tide of the match and take the remaining two games (6:4, 6:3).

Halep was charged with using the banned substance roxadustat at the 2022 US Open and discrepancies in the Romanian Athlete Biological Passport (ABP). In September 2023, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) reported that the Independent Tribunal had suspended Halep for four years.

CAS found that the prohibited drug entered the tennis player’s blood accidentally due to a contaminated food additive. The judges also took into account that the doping test was taken after the tennis player’s performances at the tournament. Halep herself has publicly stated that she does not intend to compete again in 2022, but has begun preparations for surgery on the nasal septum, which could affect the use of various drugs.

However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, Switzerland, upheld the appeal of the former world number one. The tennis player’s disqualification was reduced from four years to nine months, so the Romanian athlete was able to return to professional competition.

Halep’s disqualification begins on October 7, 2022; her period has already expired during the proceedings. The ITF undertakes to pay the tennis player 20 thousand Swiss francs as compensation.

Halep, 32, is a two-time Grand Slam champion. The Romanian athlete spent 64 weeks as the world number one.

• WTA 1000. Miami, USA. Main grid. First round

Simona Halep (Romania, WC) — Paula Badosa (Spain) — 1:2 (6:1, 4:6, 3:6)