Jannik Sinner ‘reaches agreement’ with WADA as suspension is confirmed
Jannik Sinner has been banned from tennis for three months after his legal team reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) that has avoided the potential of a longer suspension.
World No 1 Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol last March, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted that it was down to accidental contamination.
However, WADA has challenged the verdict and has asked for the Italian – who won last year’s US Open title shortly after the test was made public – to be banned from the sport for between one and two years.
With the minimum suspension of 12 months the only outcome if WADA won their case, Sinner and his legal team have been in talks over a settlement and a three-month agreement has been confirmed.
It means Sinner will not miss any Grand Slam tournaments and will be permitted to play in the French Open, which starts on May 19.
WADA released a statement to reveal details behind their decision, as they outlined when Sinner’s ban would conclude.
“The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that it has entered into a case resolution agreement in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, with the player accepting a three-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation that led to him testing positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024,” began the statement.
“In September, WADA lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Mr. Sinner, who had been found by an Independent Tribunal to bear no fault or negligence.
“Notwithstanding this appeal, the circumstances surrounding this specific case meant that in order to ensure a fair and appropriate outcome, WADA was prepared to enter into a settlement agreement, in accordance with Article 10.8.2 of the World Anti-Doping Code.
“WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision. WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage.
“However, under the Code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance.
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“The International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency, both co-respondents to WADA’s CAS appeal, neither of which appealed the first-instance decision, both accepted the case resolution agreement.
“Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Sinner will serve his period of ineligibility from 9 February 2025 to 11:59 pm on 4 May 2025 (which includes a credit for four days previously served by the athlete while he was under a provisional suspension). As per the Code Article 10.14.2, Mr. Sinner may return to official training activity from 13 April 2025.
“In light of the case resolution agreement, WADA has formally withdrawn its appeal to CAS.”
The ITIA reacted to the news of the agreement between Sinner and WADA with this statement: “We acknowledge the announcement made by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), concerning the agreement reached between WADA and Jannik Sinner to settle WADA’s appeal.
“The original process was run according to the World Anti-Doping Code and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme. Following a thorough investigation by the ITIA (including advice from WADA-accredited laboratories), we were satisfied that the player had established the source of the prohibited substance and that the breach was unintentional. Today’s outcome supports this finding.
“The ITIA referred the matter to an independent panel which reached a decision of “No Fault or Negligence” and therefore no suspension based on the facts and their application of the rules.
“The three-month outcome was only possible by agreement between WADA and the player.”
