The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) have revealed that they are appealing the verdict that saw Jannik Sinner escape a ban for failing two anti-doping tests.
Last month, Sinner avoided a suspension after a tribunal accepted that the contamination occurred during a massage from his physiotherapist.
When the International Tennis Integrity Agency (TIA) announced the failed tests, they said that, although Sinner was to be docked 400 ranking points and $250,000 (£186,932), he was found to bear ‘no fault or negligence’ and was allowed to compete at the following week’s US Open – an event that he won.
However, in a bombshell announcement on Saturday morning, WADA confirmed that it disagreed with the original findings that world No 1 Sinner had ‘no fault or negligence’ and it has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
They also said that they are seeking a ban of between one to two years for the Italian.
The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has announced that they are appealing the verdict that saw Italian world No 1 Jannik Sinner escape a ban for failing two anti-doping tests
Sinner didn’t serve a ban after being cleared of fault despite two positive anti-doping tests
But WADA disputed that verdict and on Thursday appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
In a statement, they 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.’
In response to the news, the TIA released a statement that said: ‘The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) acknowledges the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decision to appeal the ruling of No Fault or Negligence in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, issued by an independent tribunal appointed by Sport Resolutions on 19 August 2024. Under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right to appeal all such decisions.
‘Having reached an agreed set of facts following a thorough investigative process, the case was referred to a tribunal entirely independent of the ITIA to determine level of fault and therefore sanction because of the unique set of circumstances, and lack of comparable precedent. T
‘The process was run according to World Anti-Doping Code guidelines; however, the ITIA acknowledges and respects WADA’s right to appeal the independent tribunal’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.’
The 23-year-old had first tested positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol during the event in Indian Wells on March 10, then again eight days later.
Sinner was provisionally suspended, but on both occasions he successfully appealed and was allowed to continue playing while the tribunal assessed the evidence. He was, however, docked the prize money and ranking points he earned at Indian Wells.
After a lengthy, behind-closed-doors investigation, in August at a hearing in London the player’s reason for the extremely small quantity of clostebol in his system – less than a billionth of a gram – was accepted.
The explanation provided by Sinner was that a month before travelling to Indian Wells, his fitness coach Umberto Ferrara bought an over-the-counter spray containing the steroid in Italy. Then during the Indian Wells event, Sinner’s physio Giacomo Naldi cut his finger and was advised by Ferrara to use the spray to treat the wound.
Then, according to a statement from the Sinner team: ‘The physiotherapist treated Jannik and his lack of care coupled with various open wounds on Jannik’s body caused the contamination.’
The tribunal also noted that: ‘There is no suggestion the tiny concentration in his system would have had any performance enhancing effect.’
Clostebol is a derivative of testosterone, and so can help muscle growth and recovery. It has been the cause of several failed doping tests in sport, especially in Italy – one of the few countries where products containing clostebol can be sold over the counter.
After the original verdict, Sinner said in a statement: ‘I will now put this very challenging and hugely unfortunate period behind me.
‘I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.’
Sinner won the Australian Open earlier this year to pick up his maiden grand slam honours
Sinner also won the US Open, which started just a week after he avoided any suspension
The announcement from WADA could see Sinner banned for between one to two years
Jamie Singer, Sinner’s lawyer, added at the time: ‘Anti-doping rules have to be very strict to be effective. Sadly the unfortunate consequence is that, occasionally, entirely innocent athletes get caught up in them.
‘There is no question that Jannik is innocent in this case. The ITIA did not challenge that key principle.
‘Under the rules he is responsible for his team members’ mistakes and those mistakes sadly led to the positive test.’
Sinner, who also won the Australian Open earlier this year, moved to world No 1 in June and along with Carlos Alcaraz, he is expected to dominate the next generation of tennis.
