Prominent sports lawyer who previously represented Maria Sharapova set to battle Halep's four year ban

A prominent lawyer who has a lot of experience in working on doping cases has been hired to represent the former world number Simona Halep.

The 31-year-old received a four-year ban after she tested positive for the banned substance roxadustat during the US Open last year.

Howard Jacobs, who represented the former world number one Maria Sharapova in a similar kind of case, will be defending Halep in this case in the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS).

Halep has not played any tennis after being provisionally suspended last year following the doping test and it is not known how long it will take before the fans will actually get to see their star player in action once again.

The Constanța-born has an impressive record while playing at the highest level where she has two Grand Slams titles to her name.

Her first major victory came in the French Open in 2018 when she defeated America’s Sloane Stephens in the final with a score of 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Halep’s second big title victory came a year later when she outclassed legendary Serena Williams in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2 to lift the Wimbledon title.