The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed against the decision to clear Jannik Sinner after he twice tested positive for a banned substance.
Sinner was twice a Grand Slam champion in 2024 and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has now appealed its case against him for two violations of the use of steroid clostebol.
WADA is appealing the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and is now asking for a ban of between one and two years.
Sinner, who is currently playing in the China Open in Beijing, had been cleared of two instances of testing positive for the banned substance.
In a statement, WADA said: “It is WADA’s view that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was not correct under the applicable rules.
“WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.”
Sinner, 23, twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid in March but on August 20 the International Tennis Integrity Agency determined he was not to blame although he forfeited his 400 ranking points from Indian Wells, and prize money of $325,000.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on their finger.
Sinner subsequently fired physio Giacomo Naldi and his trainer Umberto Ferrara, who had supplied Naldi with the over-the-counter spray.
Sinner was able to compete from that time, and went on to win the US Open in September adding to the Australian Open title he won at the start of the year.
“Obviously it was very difficult for me to enjoy certain moments. Also how I behaved or how I walked on the court in certain tournaments before, it was not the same as I used to be,” said Sinner after the win.
“It was not easy, that’s for sure, but in the other way I tried to stay focused, which I guess I’ve done a great job mentally staying there every point I play, and that’s it.
Varied reaction from players
The ITIA decision came in for strong criticism from some players in the run-up to the US Open.
Nick Kyrios, Denis Shapovalov and Liam Broady all took to social media when the announcement was first made in August.
Kyrios called the decision ‘ridiculous’ while both Shapovalov and Broady both highlighted that many other players would have received far less lenient decisions.
Roger Federer said he believed that Sinner had done nothing wrong, but was surprised that Sinner had been allowed to continue competing.
“I think we all trust pretty much that Jannik didn’t do anything,” Federer said on NBC’s Today show in the second week of the US Open.
“But the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 per cent sure what was going on, I think that’s the question here that needs to be answered.
“I understand the frustration of, ‘Has he been treated the same as others?’ And I think this is where it comes down to.”
The Italian is also top of the ATP Race to Turin for the season-ending finale, where in 2023 prize money for the eventual champion was $2.2m and $4.8m if they were undefeated.
