Turnaround in the doping turmoil

WADA files an appeal! Sinner faces a ban

Will Jannik Sinner be banned?(Bild: AFP/GETTY IMAGES/MATTHEW STOCKMAN)

Excitement in the tennis circus: Jannik Sinner is facing a ban despite being acquitted after two positive doping tests! The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced that it had lodged an appeal in the case with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne last Thursday. 

WADA, based in Montreal, is demanding "a ban of one to two years" for Sinner. 

Jannik Sinner(Bild: AFP or licensors)

World number one Sinner tested positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in March. The 23-year-old was not banned. The tennis agency responsible, the ITIA, justified the acquittal by stating that the two-time Grand Slam tournament winner could not be proven to have acted with intent or negligence.

"Not correct" according to WADA
According to WADA, this finding is "not correct under the applicable rules". WADA is calling for a ban. However, the authority is not demanding that results be deleted in addition to those that have already been ordered by the court of first instance. Sinner won the US Open at the beginning of September.

Jannik Sinner with the US Open trophy(Bild: Associated Press)

In a statement that he published on social media, Sinner explained that the substance had entered his body via the hands of his physiotherapist. According to the statement, the physiotherapist had used a spray containing Clostebol, which is available without prescription in Italy, to treat a cut on his finger.

Lack of understanding in the tennis circus after acquittal
According to the ITIA, scientific experts considered Sinner's explanation to be credible. The tennis agency therefore refrained from suspending Sinner, at least for the time being. This had caused a lack of understanding within the tennis scene.

On Saturday, the ITIA responded to the WADA decision with a statement: "The proceedings were 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."