WADA Appeals Verdict That Rule In Favor Of Sinner
The world’s top tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive for a banned drug twice in March 2024, but an independent tribunal concluded that Sinner wasn’t at fault.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said it will file an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Since the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared in August. It concluded that Sinner, 23, was not at fault despite testing positive for the anabolic steroid Clostebol, he has managed to dodge punishment from competition thus far.
Low quantities of the substance were found in two samples taken at Indian Wells in March, eight days apart.
Sinner claimed in an August social media message that his physiotherapist’s treatments had caused “inadvertent contamination of Clostebol,” which was the reason for the positive test results.
The 2024 Australian Open champion revealed that his personal trainer had been using an over-the-counter spray on their own skin, rather than on Sinner, in order to heal a minor cut.
Sinner’s statement stated that Jannik’s physiotherapist received a product from his fitness trainer to treat a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger.
The product is readily accessible over-the-counter in any Italian pharmacy. Jannik was unaware of this, and neither was his physiotherapist aware that he was using a product that included Clostebol.
The unintentional infection was brought about by the physiotherapist treating Jannik without gloves and by a number of skin sores on Jannik’s body.
According to an August statement from the organization, Sinner was able to successfully appeal the provisional suspension that was in place following each positive test after an independent tribunal appointed by the ITIA approved this reasoning following expert consultation.
However, WADA declared on Saturday that the ITIA’s ruling “was not correct under the applicable rules.” For the 23-year-old Italian, the agency is now requesting a suspension of “between one and two years.”
In reference to the ITIA’s decision to deny Sinner the prize money and ranking points he earned at Indian Wells, where he advanced to the semifinals, WADA further stated in its statement that it is “not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.”
Shortly after the positive test results were made public on August’s US Open eve, Sinner stated that he had broken up with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi due to the incident.
He proceeded to win his second grand slam championship of the year at the US Open. He was playing in the China Open round of 16, when he overcame Roman Safiullin, when WADA made its announcement on Saturday.
References and Citation
edition.cnn.com – WADA appeals decision that cleared world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner after he tested positive for a banned substance
bleacherreport.com – Jannik Sinner Doping Verdict Appealed by WADA; Seeks Ban of No. 1 Men’s Tennis Player
theguardian.com – Wada seeks long ban for world No 1 Jannik Sinner over positive drugs tests
NYTimes.com – Jannik Sinner doping case: WADA seeks ban of up to two years in appeal
