Against all expectations, WADA decided to appeal the acquittal of Jannik Sinner by the ITIA. The worldnumber 1 will face a new trial in the coming months, just when it seemed that this dispute was now over. WADA seems to have accepted that the contamination of the Italian ace was not voluntary, but believes that Jannik deserves a suspension for being negligent. The two-time Grand Slam champion - who is playing the ATP 500 in Beijing this week - has admitted that he was very disappointed by WADAs decision to appeal.
The 23-year-old from San Candido has maintained an insane level throughout 2024, fully deserving his status as number 1 in the world and building a huge gap compared to its opponents in the ATP ranking. Sinner has won two Grand Slam titles this year, two Masters 1000 and two ATP 500.
The Italian champion is almost certain to end the year as world number 1, but his main goals before the end of the season are the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Last year, Jannik had dragged Italy to a historic Davis Cup triumph after losing the ATP Finals final to Novak Djokovic.
The case continues
The world number 1 did not deserve to face another lengthy trial and was very much regretted during the press conference in Beijing. The feeling is that it will take several months before a final verdict is reached. Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli also intervened in the doping case of Jannik Sinner. On Saturday, the WADA World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed that it had filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, judged by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) No fault or negligence for being positive twice to Clostebol, a banned substance, in March 2024.
WADA believes that the finding of "no fault or negligence on the part of the Italian player currently number 1 in the world, is not correct under the current rules and therefore requests a period of disqualification between 1 and 2 years". Marion Bartoli, 2013 Wimbledon champion, spoke to the French RMC program "Les Grandes Gueules du Sport". And he took the side of Sinner.
"What is very complicated - said Bartoli - in this matter, is that the quantities declared by ITIA are so small that we find the dossier quite ridiculous. If the World Anti-Doping Agency decides to appeal, it means that it does not agree with the test results. Unfortunately I do not have enough information to give more details, but since these are two different agencies, this means that WADA will most likely ask for the tests to be repeated on the samples themselves.
So well have to wait for these results". The Italian ace has always shown incredible mental strength and to stay focused on the tennis court even in the most difficult moments. The world number 1 does not want to be distracted and hopes that this story will be resolved as soon as possible in his favor.
The support of Carlitos
Yesterday, 4-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz defended his great rival Sinner: I think for tennis its not really good, not really a good sign for tennis in general. I thought it was closed. This month I didnt know what happened exactly. I just saw the news and it surprised me a little bit. Okay, whats going on, that the case is open again? I dont know how its going to be in the next few months. For sure, to tennis, not a good sign.
Probably, as he said before New York, people started to look at him in a different way. I dont know how it can be, but for sure I understand the position. I feel for him. The game and the level that hes playing with everything hes been through right now, its insane. He is able to put all things aside when he steps on court, playing good tennis, it is unbelievable. I hope that this thing will be aside soon and hes able to stay focused on what he loves, and that is playing tennis, trying to keep going. I hope that with his people around, his close people and him, he is not going to feel bad these next few months.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will play the Shanghai Masters 1000, the 'Six Kings Slam' in Saudi Arabia, the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, the Nitto ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals before taking a break and thinking about 2025.
