Halep examined constructive for roxadustat – an anti-anaemia drug which stimulates the manufacturing of purple blood cells within the physique – on the US Open in August 2022.
An investigation by the ITIA concluded the contamination was more likely to have come from a collagen complement known as Keto MCT.
In a ruling introduced on Tuesday, Cas stated: ”Having fastidiously thought-about all of the proof put earlier than it, the panel decided that Ms Halep had established, on the stability of possibilities, that the roxadustat entered her physique by means of the consumption of a contaminated complement which she had used within the days shortly earlier than 29 August 2022.
”The roxadustat, as detected in her pattern, got here from that contaminated product.
”In consequence, the Cas Panel decided that Ms Halep had additionally established, on the stability of possibilities, that her anti-doping rule violations weren’t intentional.
”Though the Cas Panel discovered that Ms Halep did bear some degree of fault or negligence for her violations, as she didn’t train ample care when utilizing the Keto MCT complement, it concluded that she bore no important fault or negligence.”
Halep was charged in Might 2023 with a second separate offence when the ITIA stated irregularities have been present in her athlete organic passport.
The ABP programme collects and compares organic knowledge to identify discrepancies in an athlete’s blood over time that counsel doable doping.
Three consultants – Dr Jakob Morkeberg, Dr Laura Garvican-Lewis and Professor Giuseppe d’Onofrio – assessed 51 legitimate samples of Halep’s blood and every concluded there was ”probably doping”.
Halep’s defence instructed the irregularities noticed have been brought on by elements together with blood loss throughout an operation and intervals when she was not coaching.
Cas stated it was ”not comfortably happy” Halep had dedicated an offence and the panel ”due to this fact dismissed that cost”.