(Sports news, tennis news) Jannik Sinner, the world’s number 1 tennis player, is facing the risk of being banned from competition due to a doping scandal, despite being declared innocent.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is facing a possible ban, despite being cleared of doping charges. Despite his impressive 2024 results, including winning both Grand Slam titles in Australia and the United States, his career has been overshadowed by a doping scandal that began in March at Indian Wells.
Sinner must live in anxiety and worry until early 2025
Doping incidents and investigation process
In March, Sinner tested positive twice for clostebol, a banned substance in sports, at the Indian Wells Open. The amount of the substance in his body was so small, less than a billionth of a gram, that Sinner immediately explained that the substance was in his system unintentionally.
According to Sinner, fitness trainer and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi used a spray containing clostebol to treat the wound on his finger before performing the massage.
The International Tennis Integrity Commission (ITIA) later reviewed and accepted this explanation, declaring that Sinner was not at fault or negligent in his use of the banned substance. This meant that he was not suspended and could continue to compete in international tournaments.
However, just as Sinner was competing at the 2024 China Open, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decided to appeal ITIA’s decision.
WADA said that ITIA’s “no fault or negligence” conclusion was inconsistent with current rules. According to WADA, Sinner could face a one- to two-year ban, and the case has been referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for review.
There is currently no date set for the CAS hearing, meaning Sinner will have to wait until at least early 2025 for a final outcome. In the meantime, he will be allowed to continue playing, including retaining titles won after March, such as the US Open.
Speaking to the media, Sinner expressed his disappointment and surprise at WADA’s decision. He shared: “I am really disappointed and surprised that WADA decided to appeal. We have gone through three hearings, and all three times the results were positive for me.”
Despite the pressure from the lawsuit, Sinner has maintained his excellent performance, reaching the semi-finals of the China Open. However, if Sinner loses the lawsuit against WADA in early 2025, the ITIA’s previous “innocent” decision will be overturned and the Italian tennis player will have to serve a ban, possibly stripped of some titles.
