Simona Halep reportedly relocates to UAE from Romania ahead of doping appeal verdict

Former world No. 1 Simona Halep has decided to leave Romania and relocate to the United Arab Emirates in Dubai amid the anticipation of a verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) that would potentially allow her to return to the tennis courts after a four-year suspension from the WTA Tour.

The Romanian, originally from Constanza, had her residence in a villa in Snagov, a commune near Bucharest. Halep put her villa, located on the shores of Lake Snagov, up for sale. The property, spanning 420 square meters and featuring a luxurious house with a pool, fitness room, private courtyard, office, and a stunning lake view, was sold for 4.2 million euros. Halep has now definitively left Romania and reportedly invested the proceeds in the purchase of a property in Dubai, as reported by Orange Sport.

The former world No. 1 had faced accusations of two separate anti-doping rule violations: a positive test during the 2022 US Open and irregularities in her Athlete Biological Passport, according to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). A panel of ITIA judges determined that Halep "committed intentional anti-doping rule violations." The 2-times Grand Slam champion had been provisionally suspended since October 2022, and the four-year suspension is set to last until October 6, 2026.

The ITIA dismissed Halep's arguments that she may have experienced cross-contamination through the intake of a dietary supplement and concluded that the doping violation by the former world No. 1 was intentional.

Halep has chosen to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and she is currently awaiting a response to determine her future in the WTA Tour. Despite having three years left in her suspension, the 32-year-old Romanian continues to actively train, as evidenced by her social media updates.

“My fight continues,” she wrote on her Instagram after the dopping ban.