Jannik Sinner doping case: WADA is requesting a ban of up to two years in the appeal process

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 is currently in Beijing playing in the China Open.

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 annulment of any results except those already imposed by the trial court.”

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World No. 1 Jannik Sinner was penalized after testing positive for a banned substance twice

In response, the ITIA issued its own statement.

“The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) recognizes the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), against the decision of an independent, by Sport Resolutions on August 19, 2024. In accordance with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code “WADA has the final right to appeal any 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.”

Jannik Sinner won the US Open immediately after the ITIA ruling in his anti-doping case. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

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 had a 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.

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“The news Sinner will have feared”

Analysis by Charlie Eccleshare, tennis writer

Sinner overcame months of uncertainty and won the US Open three weeks ago. Investigations have now been initiated against him again and the associated re-examination of the original ITIA judgment is taking place.

It wasn’t as if the world No. 1 seemed necessarily relieved in New York – his post-match press conference after the final was as subdued as it was celebratory – but it was as if Sinner had temporarily closed a chapter behind him.

However, the prospect of an appeal from WADA was always there, and Saturday morning brought the news Sinner had probably feared. He was able to manage himself pretty well in the five months from the announcement of the positive test to the publication in August. He even won the Cincinnati Open two days before the full decision in his case was released.

But in his post-graduation press conference in New York, he admitted that his behavior and personality had changed during the investigation.

“Of course it was very difficult to enjoy certain moments,” he said.

“Even the way I behaved or the way I walked onto the court at some tournaments wasn’t the same as before.”

Jannik Sinner answered numerous questions about his case at his pre-tournament press conference and throughout the US Open. (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

This decision by WADA and the associated demand for a ban of up to two years will be another major challenge to his mentality.

When the independent tribunal convened by the ITIA ruled that Sinner had committed “no fault or negligence” – the key term that WADA is challenging – numerous players, some high-profile, expressed the view that the speed of his case pointed to double standards in the sport .

There will certainly be consternation in the higher echelons of tennis that a doping investigation is being launched against the best male player in the world, with WADA’s appeal now being referred to CAS.

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