Jannik Sinner doping case: WADA appeals ITIA ruling and demands ban of up to two years

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that it will appeal the finding of “no fault or negligence” in Jannik Sinner’s anti-doping case.

WADA is seeking a “ban of one or two years,” banning the world No. 1 tennis player and two-time Grand Slam champion from participating in the sport at all levels. Just three weeks ago Sinner won the US Open in New York.

The athlete has reached out to his camp for comment.

Sinner tested positive for Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, twice: on March 10 while in competition at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, and on March 18 out of competition.

An independent tribunal convened by the ITIA and led by Sports Resolutions ruled in a hearing on August 15 that Sinner was “not at fault or negligent” for those positive tests, but still found that Sinner had committed two anti-doping violations , for which he was responsible for being stripped of his ranking points, prize money and results from that event.

It accepted the Italian world number one’s explanation that Sinner’s physiotherapist Umberto Ferrara had brought an over-the-counter healing spray with Clostebol to Indian Wells. His coach, physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, cut his hand and then used the spray on the cut. Naldi then performed massages on Sinner, which resulted in transdermal contamination with the Clostebol from the healing spray.

Sinner separated from Naldi and Ferrara on the eve of the US Open.

WADA is now challenging the decision that Sinner is not to blame for his violation. A statement released today, Saturday September 28th, said: “The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that it will appeal on Thursday September 26th in the case of the Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, who was found by an independent court of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to be neither at fault nor negligent because he tested positive for Clostebol twice in March 2024 banned substance was tested.

“In WADA’s view, the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was incorrect under the applicable rules. WADA is requesting a ban of between one and two years. WADA does not seek to annul any results except those already imposed by the trial court.”

In response, the ITIA issued its own statement.

“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) recognizes the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal against the “no fault or negligence” verdict in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, made by an independent, by Sport Resolutions on August 19, 2024. “Under the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right to appeal against all such decisions,” an ITIA spokesperson said.

“Once we reached agreement on the facts following a thorough investigative process, the case was referred to a tribunal completely independent of the ITIA to determine the extent of the culpability and therefore the sanction given the unique circumstances and the absence of a comparable precedent .

“The trial was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code; However, the ITIA recognizes and respects WADA’s right to appeal the decision of the independent arbitral tribunal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

In the ITIA’s full decision, Professor David Cowan said: “Even if the administration had been intentional, the small amounts likely to have been administered would not have been.” […] any relevant doping or performance-enhancing effect on the player.”

A positive Clostebol test results in a mandatory interim suspension from tennis, but two other independent courts upheld Sinner’s appeals against those suspensions, which were active between April 4th and 5th and April 17th and 20th. The success of these appeals meant that the two positive tests and the associated suspensions were only made public after the ITIA investigation into the Sinner case had concluded. This led to accusations of double standards from some of Sinner’s tennis colleagues, but is in line with ITIA protocol.

In a statement released at the end of the investigation, Sinner said: “I will now put this very challenging and extremely unfortunate period behind me.” The best men’s tennis player in the world must now get back to it.

(Top photo: Kena Betancur / AFP via Getty Images)