Simona Halep, the former Wimbledon and French Open champion, had her four-year doping ban reduced to nine months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday. This decision renders the former world No 1 eligible to return to competition right away.

Initially facing a four-year ban for two separate anti-doping rule violations, Halep's suspension was shortened to nine months, a period she has already served. CAS ruled unanimously to reduce her ineligibility period, which expired on July 6, 2023.

With the ban lifted, the 32-year-old Romanian can now make an immediate comeback to the tennis circuit. She may even receive a wild card entry to prestigious tournaments like the French Open or Wimbledon this year.

In a statement, Halep expressed relief and eagerness to return to the tour, maintaining her innocence throughout the ordeal. She emphasized her commitment to clean sport and expressed gratitude for the decision.

Halep's suspension stemmed from a positive test for roxadustat, a banned substance, during the 2022 US Open. She was also charged with another doping offense due to irregularities in her athlete biological passport. Despite vehemently denying the charges, Halep faced the prospect of a lengthy ban, which could have led to retirement.

The tennis star attributed her positive test to contaminated supplements and criticized the process, accusing the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) of mishandling her case. However, an independent tribunal acknowledged her claim of contaminated supplements but found discrepancies in the volume ingested.

While CAS acknowledged Halep's lack of significant fault in the doping violation, it dismissed the athlete biological passport charge, considering her medical condition and non-participation in competitions.

In response, the ITIA affirmed its respect for the anti-doping process and players' right to appeal, acknowledging the outcome of the case.

With her ban lifted, Halep can now focus on resuming her tennis career, eager to put the doping saga behind her and return to competing at the highest level.