WADA has announced the appeal on the ITIA verdict regarding Jannik Sinner's doping issue, positive result for Clostebol in a test carried out this year in Indian Wells.
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A decision that has obviously divided the opinion of the media, insiders, tennis players, former tennis players and fans, considering that the Italian risks a 1-2 year disqualification.
"The World Anti-Doping Agency confirms that it has lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Thursday, September 26, in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, who was found by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to be free of fault or negligence for testing positive twice for Clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024. WADA believes that the finding of 'no fault or negligence' is not correct under the applicable rules and is therefore seeking a period of ineligibility of between 1 and 2 years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification for any result other than that already imposed by the first instance tribunal. As the matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will not be making any further comment at this time," wrote the World Anti-Doping Agency in a statement.
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While waiting to hear further scenarios on this matter, the President of the Italian tennis federation Angelo Binaghi analyzed WADA's decision.
"We have great faith in the CAS, which will have to put an end to the case, since Sinner has not only the evidence of the facts on his side, but also the acquittal by three independent bodies. I am sure that the only effect of the Wada appeal will be positive, because it will establish the boy's innocence and put an end to this affair once and for all, giving us back a champion in full serenity," he said.
Former Italian tennis player Paolo Bertolucci obviously sided with his young countryman, saying: "I am firmly convinced of Sinner's innocence. While there can never be certainty, I find his version completely logical, which was also confirmed to me by insiders. Now the CAS will decide, but the only thing that I find disconcerting in all this is that we are talking about several weeks up to 5-6 months to decide if Sinner is guilty. A very long time, even Italian trials last less! It is not right to keep a tennis player on the grill for all this time. Stopping an athlete for such a long time is ridiculous, it means killing him. However, I remain optimistic also because there is the precedent of the case of Jos Luis Palomino."
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Among Sinner's main antagonists in this affair there is obviously Nick Kyrgios. The Australian has repeatedly attacked his Italian colleague during the US Open and, after the WADA appeal was made official, he doubled down, writing a very explicit post.
"Hahahaha, maybe he's not so innocent after all," he wrote.
Nick is sparking controversy with various attacks directed at Jannik. Just a few days ago, Kyrgios joked on social media that Sinner was a victim of this whole situation, obviously putting a clown emoji next to it and thus making fun of the whole affair.
