Former World No.1, Simona Halep was seen on social media in training videos in recent days with fans remaining puzzled about the 32-year-old putting in preparation for a comeback amid a four year doping ban.

But Halep has now appealed against this ban through the Court for Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and is now likely ticking over ahead of the decision being made. If found in her favour, the sanction could yet be reduced and could see her back on court soon given that she has already had a year off the court.

Halep tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat in August 2022 and was suspended in October of last year. She was later charged with irregularities in her ABP (Athlete Biological Passport) and last month, the suspension was confirmed.

Given the appeal process though, any sort of decision not in favour of Halep could basically be terminal for her career with the judgement being binding from there.

A statement read: "The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered the appeal filed by the Romanian tennis player, Ms Simona Halep (the Athlete), against the decision rendered by the International Tennis Integrity Agency Tribunal dated 22 September 2023 (the Challenged Decision), in which she was found to have committed Anti-Doping Rule Violations and sanctioned with a four-year period of ineligibility commencing on 7 October 2022, and the disqualification of all results obtained in competitions taking place in the period 29 August 2022 to 7 October 2022, including forfeiture of any medals, titles, ranking points and prize money.

"In her appeal to the CAS, the Athlete requests that the Challenged Decision be set aside and that her sanction be reduced.

"The CAS arbitration proceedings have commenced. In accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration (the CAS Code), the arbitration rules governing CAS procedures, the parties are exchanging written submissions and the Panel of arbitrators that will decide the matter is being constituted.

"Once constituted, the Panel will issue procedural directions for the next phase of the procedure, including the holding of a hearing.

"Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and issue an Arbitral Award containing its decision and the grounds for it.

"At this time, it is not possible to indicate a time frame for the issuance of the decision.

"The CAS Panel's decision will be final and binding, with the exception of the parties' right to file an appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days on limited grounds."