The Italian world number one tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March this year, but was cleared and allowed to continue competing. Clostebol is an anabolic steroid listed as a banned substance by WADA.

Sinner won the US Open earlier this month for his second Grand Slam title, just weeks after the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) cleared him of “no fault or negligence” following two positive doping tests in March.

ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body when a physiotherapist used a spray containing the drug to treat an open wound, then performed massage and sports therapy on the tennis player.

However, WADA does not share ITIA’s view. Last Thursday, WADA appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“WADA considers that the conclusion of ‘no fault or negligence’ is not valid under the current regulations. WADA is seeking a one- to two-year ban,” WADA said in a statement on Saturday.

Sinner has consistently denied deliberately using doping, in his latest statement on the incident, the world number one male tennis player said: “Obviously I am very disappointed and also very surprised. We have gone through three hearings, all three of which have had very positive results for me.”

After winning the US Open, Sinner said the controversy over his positive doping test still haunted him.

“It was and still is in my mind. It’s not that it’s gone, but when I go on the pitch, I try to focus on the game, I try to handle the situation in the best way possible, communicate with the team and train well. It’s definitely not easy, but I tried to focus and I think I did very well,” Sinner shared.

The decision to clear Sinner of the ban was met with scepticism by some players, who argued that Sinner had benefited from preferential treatment due to his status in the sport.

Tennis player Nick Kyrgios said in a post on social media X that not imposing a suspension on Sinner was “absurd”. Tennis player Denis Shapovalov said the ITIA’s decision proved that “there are different rules for different players”.

Sinner is defending his title at the China Open (a tournament taking place in Beijing, China). The Italian player won a ticket to the semi-finals after a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Jiri Lehecka on the evening of September 30.