Jannik Sinner 'surprised' as WADA doping appeal calls for world No. 1 to be banned for 'between one and two years'
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Updated 28/09/2024 at 14:08 GMT+1
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The decision to clear Jannik Sinner of any wrongdoing after the world No. 1 failed two doping tests has been appealed by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Sinner twice tested positive for clostebol in March but was exonerated by an idependent tribunal. However, WADA say the decision was "not correct" and have called for a ban of "between one and two years."
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The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has launched an appeal against the decision to clear world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner of negligence or fault after twice failing doping tests.
Sinner tested positive for clostebol in March 2024, a type of performance-enhancing steroid that is prohibited under Section S1 of WADA’s Prohibited List.
The Italian was cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in August.
But WADA has now launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, contesting that “the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules” and calling for Sinner to be suspended for one to two years.
A WADA statement said: “The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that on Thursday 26 September, it lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Italian tennis player, Jannik Sinner, who was found by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to bear no fault or negligence having twice tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024.
“It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules. WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.
“As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time.”
The news broke as Sinner was on court against Roman Safiullin in the last 16 of the China Open in Beijing.
And the Italian reacted to the development after securing a three-set win to reach the quarter-finals.
"Obviously I'm very disappointed and also surprised about this appeal because we had three hearings," Sinner said.
"All three hearings came out very positively for me.
"I knew it a couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it's going to go official."
The decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing came after the ITIA concluded that the Italian had been accidentally contaminated by his team, who used “an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound.”
“That support team member applied the spray between 5 and 13 March, during which time they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in unknowing transdermal contamination,” said an ITIA statement.
“Following consultation with scientific experts, who concluded that the player’s explanation was credible, the ITIA did not oppose the player’s appeals to lift the provisional suspensions.
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“A thorough investigation by the ITIA followed, including multiple in-depth interviews with Sinner and their support team, all of whom co-operated fully with the process.
“Following that investigation, and in line with the independent scientific advice, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation as to the source of clostebol found in their sample and that the violation was not intentional.”
The decision to clear Sinner caused some controversy within the sport, with questions raised over the lack of consistency by the ITIA.
Nick Kyrgios wrote on X: “Ridiculous - whether it was accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance, you should be gone for 2 years. Your performance was enhanced.”
Denis Shapovalov posted: “Different rules for different players.”
Barbara Schett told Eurosport that frustration comes from the fact that other tennis players like Simona Halep and Jenson Brooksby faced more severe punishments for similar offences.
“It seems there is lots of inconsistency when the authorities announce things for the public and when they keep it a secret a little bit longer,” Schett said.
“I’m not in touch with the authorities and don’t know the rules and regulations clearly enough. They obviously wanted to look at this case in a closed environment because there was an obvious explanation for how it happened. When I read it, I believe it.
“But then I look at Simona Halep, Jenson Brooksby, who couldn’t play, there is a big inconsistency. Halep couldn’t play for a long time, was banned for two years pretty much and had to fight hard to get off.
“I thought of Simona immediately and thought about what she would be thinking. I wish there was more consistency. For some players, it gets vocalised in the media more quickly.”
On the court, Sinner is enjoying the most successful season of his career in 2024.
He won his first major title at the Australian Open in January and followed that up with a second at the US Open last month.
Sinner has also won titles in Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati to strengthen his grip on the No. 1 ranking spot.
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