The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed against the decision to clear world number one Jannik Sinner of blame after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.
WADA is challenging last month’s ruling by an independent tribunal, which found that the Italian tennis star bore no fault or negligence. According to WADA, the ruling was “not correct under the applicable rules,” and it has now taken the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), arguing that Sinner should face a suspension of “between one and two years.”
Sinner, 23, is currently competing in the last 16 of the China Open in Beijing, where he faces Roman Safiullin.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially brought the case to the tribunal after Sinner tested positive for low levels of clostebol, a steroid commonly used to build muscle mass, during the Indian Wells tournament in March.
Although Sinner was provisionally suspended, he successfully challenged the decision and was allowed to continue playing. His defense claimed that the banned substance had been inadvertently transferred to him by his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who had applied an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on his own hand.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation, with the tribunal ruling that he was not at fault. However, Sinner was stripped of his ranking points and prize money for reaching the semi-finals at Indian Wells.
Despite the ruling in his favor, Sinner has since parted ways with Naldi. Just 19 days after being cleared, Sinner went on to win the US Open in New York.
While the ITIA acknowledged that its process followed WADA guidelines, it respects WADA’s right to appeal the tribunal’s decision.