Halep accepts Miami Open wildcard as her doping ban is reduced

Simona Halep will make her first competitive appearance since winning an appeal against a doping suspension by accepting a wildcard into this month's Miami Open, the Romanian former world number one announced on Thursday.

The 32-year-old Halep, a former Wimbledon and French Open champion, had her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months by the top court for global sport this week, allowing her to compete immediately.

"I'm thrilled to let you all know that I will be making my return to the WTA Tour in two weeks at the @miamiopen!" Halep wrote on social media.

"Thank you to the tournament for giving me this opportunity and I cannot wait to be back on court and competing. See you all soon!"

Halep was suspended in October 2022 after testing positive for roxadustat, a banned drug that stimulates red blood cell production, at the United States Open that year.

She was also charged with another doping offense last year due to irregularities in her athlete biological passport (ABP), which is a method for monitoring various blood parameters over time to detect potential doping.

Halep, who vehemently denied the charges against her, had stated that if the initial four-year ban was upheld, she would almost certainly have had to retire.

The Miami Open runs from March 17 to March 31.

SportsLigue