The Jannik Sinner doping case won't go away without further drama as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is appealing the International Tennis Integrity Agency's decision to clear the Italian of bearing no fault or negligence for what happened and they want a 1-2 year ban.
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40 days ago, the tennis world was left shocked after it was announced that the current world No. 1 twice tested positive for a banned steroid in March. Since there was no provisional suspension, the information didn't come out until the ITIA investigation concluded and he avoided any kind of ban because it was determined that he "bore no fault or negligence."
For context, the argument was that shortly after Sinner was notified about two failed tests, his team found out how a prohibited substance got into his body - it happened while his former physio Giacomo Naldi was treating a cut on his leg with over-the-counter spray.
While the 23-year-old avoided being suspended by the ITIA, there was a chance that WADA would lodge an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). And it has happened.
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"The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that on Thursday 26 September, it lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Italian tennis player, Jannik Sinner, who was found by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to bear no fault or negligence having twice tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024," WADA said in a press release.
"It is WADAs 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. As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time."
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What Sinner said after the doping ban news dropped?
On August 20th, the world No. 1 won the Cincinnati Masters after beating Frances Tiafoe in the final. The following day, the news that stunned many came out.
A couple of days later when he arrived for the US Open, the 23-year-old spoke publicly about it for the first time. And during his interview, the reigning Australian Open champion was adamant that he was fully innocent.
"Of course it's not ideal before a Grand Slam but in my mind I know that I haven't done anything wrong. I had to play already months with this in my head. I'm just happy that it's finally out because it's one kind of relief also for me and my team, which is still here," Sinner said when addressing the matter for the first time.
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In the same interview, the Italian tennis star insisted that he would knowingly or purposely take something that is on the banned list.
"Whoever knows me very well knows that I haven't done and I would never do something what goes against the rules. Here I also know who is my friend and who is not my friend, because my friends, they know that I would never do that. About the reputation, we will see moving forward, no? Because this, I can't really control," he said.
Some players weren't happy but Sinner went on to win the US Open
As soon as the news dropped, some players issued a strong take while some decided to stay silent. One of the first to react among the bigger names were Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov - the Australian slammed the process as "ridiculous" and called for a two-year ban, while the Canadian stated on X that there are "different rules for different players."
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Throughout the US Open, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist continued to attack the world No. 1 and call for his ban. However, Sinner was able to tune it all out and win his first US Open title and overall his second Slam glory. Following his win, he was asked if he had any thoughts about what some may think about his latest Major win considering the circumstances.
I don't know. You have to ask all the other players. This, I don't know. Well, that what I can say is that the general reaction of the players was quite positive, even when things came out. Then there have been, of course, some different voices, but this is in everything. This is not only in tennis. This is in other sports and different jobs also," the Italian said.
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Sinner is currently playing a match in Beijing and he will probably be asked about the WADA decision in his post-match press conference.
