Jannik Sinner doping case: WADA warns ‘dopers would win’ if Italian is not banned
Jannik Sinner is likely to be banned for a minimum of one year if the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) gets its way in the appeal against the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruling in his doping case.
A WADA official has confirmed that if an athlete who failed a doping test is not punished then “it would be all too easy for the cheater to escape significant sanctions”.
Sinner, then ranked No 2 in the world, returned two positive samples for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024 and he was hit with provisional suspensions by the ITIA.
However, the Italian successfully appealed both times and was allowed to continue playing before the ITIA cleared him last August as they found he bore “no fault or negligence” for the failed tests.
The world No 1’s explanation that the substance entered his system after a member of his team messaged him using a cream that contained clostebol was accepted by the tennis anti-doping agency.
He was stripped of his prize money and ranking points for the Indian Wells Open and it was initially thought that was that.
But WADA appealed the “no fault or negligence” ruling in September as they believe he should still be punished and the hearing is now set to take place at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on April 16-17 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
There had been suggestions that Sinner could be stripped of more ranking points and/or prize money, but WADA spokesperson James Fitzgerald has confirmed that they are “only” seeking a suspension.
And that suspension will be between 12 and 24 months.
Sinner has dominated tennis the past 12 months as since his positive tests he won two Grand Slams (the US Open in September and the Australian Open in January) while he also won the ATP Finals and three ATP Masters 1000 trophies.
“As we stated in September, WADA believes that the conclusion of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct according to the current rules, and is asking for a suspension period of between one and two years,” Fitzgerald told La Sampa.
“WADA is not asking for the cancellation of any results other than those already imposed in the first instance. As the matter is now pending before the CAS, WADA will not comment further.”
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And the reason for WADA’s appeal is simple as they need to send a message to cheaters.
The WADA official added: “The principle of strict liability is of fundamental importance to upholding fairness in sport. Without it there would be no anti-doping and the dopers would win.
“If an athlete who tests positive for a prohibited substance does not have to explain where it came from, or how it entered his system, it would be all too easy for the cheater to escape significant sanctions.”
