Jannik Sinner: WADA is appealing the decision that acquitted the world-ranked tennis player after he tested positive for a banned substance

CNN
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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) says it will appeal to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) after an independent tribunal found that world number one tennis player Jannik Sinner was not at fault for testing positive for a banned substance twice was tested in March 2024.

The 23-year-old Sinner has so far avoided a ban from competition since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced in August that he was not guilty despite testing positive for Clostebol, an anabolic steroid. Two samples taken eight days apart in March in Indian Wells showed low levels of the drug.

In a statement posted on social media in August, Sinner said the positive tests were due to “accidental contamination with Clostebol” from treatment by his physical therapist. The 2024 Australian Open winner also said his physiotherapist applied an over-the-counter spray to his own skin – not Sinner’s – to treat a small wound.

“His fitness trainer purchased a product that was available over the counter in every Italian pharmacy and gave it to Jannik’s physical therapist to treat a cut on the physical therapist’s finger,” Sinner’s statement said.

“Jannik didn’t know about it and his physiotherapist didn’t know he was using a product containing Clostebol. … The physical therapist treated Jannik without gloves and, in conjunction with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body, caused the unintentional contamination.”

An independent court convened by the ITIA accepted this explanation after consultation with experts and allowed Sinner to successfully appeal against the interim suspension, which applied after every positive test, the organization said in August.

But on Saturday, WADA said ITIA’s decision was “incorrect under current rules.” The authority is now seeking a ban “between one and two years” for the 23-year-old Italian.

WADA added in its statement that it “does not seek disqualification of any results, except those already imposed by the Tribunal of First Instance,” referring to the ITIA’s decision to award Sinner the prize money and ranking points he received had won, to escape Indian Wells, where he reached the semi-finals.

On the eve of the US Open in August, shortly after the positive tests were publicly announced, Sinner said he broke up with his physical therapist Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara about the incident.

He then won the US Open and claimed his second Grand Slam title of the year. When WADA announced its appeal on Saturday, he was in the round of 16 of the China Open, where he defeated Roman Safiullin.