Jannik Sinner could face a longer ban as WADA appeals the doping case

The World Anti-Doping Agency is calling for world number 1 Jannik Sinner to be banned for one to two years and accuses the Italian tennis star of having acted negligently in a doping case.

WADA confirmed on Saturday that it had appealed the Sinner case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Sinner tested positive for a banned substance twice in March but was not suspended because he was not at fault, the International Tennis Integrity Agency said Aug. 20.

Samples submitted by the Italian at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells on March 10 and 18 contained small amounts of the banned substance clostebol, violating anti-doping rules, an independent tribunal set up by Sport Resolutions said.

However, it was discovered that Clostebol, a steroid, entered Sinner’s body through a third party. A support team member who had used an over-the-counter spray containing the substance to treat his own wound passed it on to Sinner through therapy administered without gloves.

WADA disagrees.

“WADA believes that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was incorrect under the applicable rules,” the agency said in a press release. “WADA is aiming for a ban of between one and two years. WADA does not seek annulment of results, except those already imposed by the trial court.”

“As this matter is currently pending before CAS, WADA will have no further comment at this time.”

The 23-year-old Sinner had a spectacular 2024, going 57-5 in his matches and winning six of his 16 career titles, including the US Open, Australian Open and the ATP Masters 1000 events in Cincinnati and Miami.

Sinner reached the quarterfinals at the China Open on Saturday.

In August, however, some of his teammates spoke out against the lack of punishment for Sinner.

Australian Nick Kyrgios criticized Sinner’s statement.

“Ridiculous – regardless of whether it was accidental or planned. You will be tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance…you should be gone for two years. Your performance has improved. Massage cream… Yes, nice,” Kyrgios continued to post

“Different rules for different players,” Canadian Denis Shapovalov wrote on X. “I can’t imagine what any other player banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WADA seeks ban on No. 1 Jannik Sinner in doping case