Jannik Sinner’s doping case: The Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear WADA’s appeal against the decision to clear the world number one male player in April | Tennis news

An appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the decision to clear Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing in his doping case will be heard before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April.

Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2024, tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March last year, before acquitted in August by an independent court who found him not guilty.

But WADA appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September and is seeking a ban of one to two years for the Italian.

On Friday, CAS confirmed that the hearing will take place on April 16 and 17.

Announcing its appeal, WADA said: “WADA’s position is that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ is incorrect under the applicable rules.

“WADA seeks a period of ineligibility between one and two years. WADA does not seek disqualification of any results, other than those already imposed by the trial court.”

Sinner, who has always protested his innocence, said he was “disappointed” and “surprised” by WADA’s appeal.

A statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency at the time said: “The ITIA recognizes the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal the decision of no fault or negligence in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, made by an independent organization called the Sport Resolutions 19 August 2024.

“Under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right of appeal against any such decision.

“Having arrived at an agreed set of facts following a thorough investigative process, the case was referred to a tribunal completely independent of ITIA to determine the level of culpability and therefore sanction due to the unique set of circumstances and lack of comparable precedent.

“The process was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the ITIA recognizes and respects WADA’s right to appeal the decision of the independent tribunal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

How did the banned substance get into Sinner’s body? What were the consequences?

In the case presented by ITIA, the court accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage by his physical therapist, who used a steroid-containing spray to treat a cut on his finger.

Sinner subsequently dismissed physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and his trainer Umberto Ferrara, who gave Naldi an over-the-counter spray.

Although Sinner had to forfeit his 400 ranking points from Indian Wells – and $325,000 in prize money – he was able to continue competing and won the US Open in September, adding to the Australian Open title he won earlier in the year.

“Obviously it was very difficult for me to enjoy certain moments. Also, how I carried myself or how I walked on the court in certain tournaments before was not the same as I was,” Sinner said after his victory in Flushing Meadows.

“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but on the other hand I tried to stay focused, which I guess I did a great job mentally staying there every point I played, and that’s it.

‘Ridiculous’ – as the tennis world initially responded

Sinner, 23, maintains his innocence, saying the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than a billionth of a gram.

A statement released on his behalf in August said he “knew nothing” of the breach.

“Jannik didn’t know anything about it, and his physiotherapist didn’t know that he was using a product containing clostebol,” the statement said.

“The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and together with the various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused unintentional contamination.”

But the decision to drop him has drawn sharp criticism ahead of the US Open, with some players citing perceived inconsistencies.

Nick Kyrios, Denis Shapovalov and Liam Broady took to social media when it was the announcement was first published in August.

Kyrios called the decision ‘ridiculous’, while both Shapovalov and Broady expressed the opinion that other players would have received a different outcome.

“Ridiculous – either by accident or by design. They test you twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be out for 2 years. Your performance is improved. Massage cream… Yeah, nice,” Kyrgios posted on X.

“Different rules for different players,” Canadian Denis Shapovalov posted on X. “I can’t imagine what every other player who got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now.”

Roger Federer said he believed Sinner had done nothing wrong but was surprised he was allowed to continue competing.

“I think we all pretty much believe Jannik didn’t do anything,” Federer said on NBC’s Today show during last year’s US Open.

“But the potential inconsistency of him not having to sit out until they were 100 percent sure what was going on, I think that’s a question that needs to be answered.

“I understand the frustration: ‘Was he treated the same as others?’ And I think that’s what this comes down to.”

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