"Glad to have the opportunity to prove my innocence" - Simona Halep on receiving appeal dates from CAS to challenge 4-year doping ban

Simona Halep has received the dates from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for her appeal hearing. The three-day hearing is set for February 7-9 as the Romanian looks to reduce the four-year doping ban imposed on her by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

Halep had tested positive for Roxadustat, a prohibited substance, at the 2022 US Open. She was handed a 48-month suspension by the ITIA earlier this year for 'intentional' breaches of the sport's anti-doping programme.

The two-time Grand Slam champion has been maintaining her innocence right from the beginning. She filed an appeal with the CAS in October to get her four-year doping ban reduced and to clear her name.

Halep took to Instagram to share the news of her hearing dates.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has decided hearings in my case to be between 7-9 February 2024. I am glad to have the opportunity to present and prove my innocence before an Independent tribunal. Thank you!" Halep said in her Instagram video post [Translated from Romanian to English].

Screengrab from Simona Halep's Instagram

The CAS had earlier announced that the decision of its panel on the matter would be final and binding with the ITIA. But Halep might be given a possible option to file another appeal with the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days after that.

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A brief look at Simona Halep's Grand Slam victories

Simona Halep with the 2018 French Open winner's trophy

Simona Halep enjoyed her best career years from 2017 to 2019. The former World No.1 won both of her Majors during that period.

A Slam title had eluded Halep up until 2018. She had been a finalist at the 2014 French Open, the 2017 French Open and at the 2018 Australian Open, but fallen at the last hurdle each time.

The Romanian tasted her first Grand Slam success at the 2018 French Open. She defeated the likes of Elise Mertens, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza before overcoming Sloane Stephens in the summit clash.

Simona Halep with the 2019 Wimbledon winner's plate

Halep entered the 2019 Wimbledon Championships as the seventh seed. She defeated Zhang Shuai in the quarterfinals and Elina Svitolina in the semifinals to set up an encounter with Serena Williams in the finals.

Halep stunned the 23-time Grand Slam champion with a sweeping 6-2, 6-2 victory to lift her second Grand Slam trophy. In doing so, she became the first Romanian to win a Wimbledon singles title.

Halep is the second Romanian woman to win a Major singles title after Virginia Ruzici.