The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appeal against the decision to clear Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing in his doping case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April.
Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2024, tested positive last March for the anabolic steroid clostebol, before becoming was approved in August by an independent court who determined that he was not guilty.
But WADA appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September and is demanding a ban of between one and two years for the Italian.
On Friday, CAS confirmed that the hearing will be held on April 16 and 17.
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Jannik Sinner says he was surprised the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision to clear the world No.1 after he twice tested positive for a banned substance
“I haven’t done anything wrong” – Sinner hits back at critics
In a case presented by the ITIA, a court accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage by his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on his finger.
Sinner subsequently fired physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and his trainer Umberto Ferrara, who had provided Naldi with the over-the-counter spray.
Although Sinner had to forfeit his 400 ranking points from Indian Wells – and $325,000 in prize money – he was able to continue competing and went on to win the US Open in September, adding to the Australian Open title he won earlier this year.
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Nick Kyrgios attended his first press conference before returning to Brisbane, where he discussed the doping cases involving Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek.
In December, Nick Kyrgios labeled the doping-related allegations against Jannik Sinner and No. 2 lady Iga Swiatek – who accepted a one-month ban in November after testing positive for the banned substance trimetazidine – as “disgusting” and a “terrible look” for tennis.
Speaking on Friday ahead of the defense of his Australian Open title, Sinner reiterated his innocence and hit back at criticism from the likes of Kyrgios.
“How do I block it? It’s not like you just put it in a part and you just say, I’m not thinking about this anymore, but in my mind I know exactly what happened,” the Italian said.
“And that’s how I block it out. No, I don’t, I haven’t done anything wrong. That’s why I’m still here. And that’s why I’m still playing.
“I don’t want to respond to what Nick said or what the other players say.
“I think the most important part is having my people around me that I can trust. People they know exactly what happened. And that’s it.”
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A look at the best and biggest moments of Jannik Sinner from 2024, where the Italian came well ahead in the world rankings.
What WADA said when it appealed
WADA announced its appeal: “It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the current rules.
“WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking disqualification of any results, other than that already imposed by the Court of First Instance.”
Sinner said he had been “disappointed” and “surprised” by WADA’s appeal.
A statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency at the time said: “ITIA recognizes the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to appeal the decision of no fault or negligence in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, issued by an independent tribunal appointed by Sport Resolutions on 19 August 2024.
“In accordance with the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right of appeal against any such decision.
“Having reached an agreed set of facts following a thorough investigative process, the matter was referred to a tribunal completely independent of ITIA to determine the degree of fault and therefore penalty due to the unique set of circumstances and the lack of comparable precedent.
“The process was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code. However, ITIA recognizes and respects WADA’s right to appeal the independent tribunal’s decision in the Court of Sports.”
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Sinner reflected on the investigation that took place into his positive tests for a banned substance when speaking to Sky Sports Tennis at the US Open
“Ridiculous” – how the tennis world initially responded
Sinner, 23, has maintained his innocence since the case went public, claiming the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than a billionth of a gram.
A statement released on his behalf in August said he “knew nothing” about the breach.
“Jannik knew nothing about this, and his physical therapist did not know that he was using a product containing clostebol,” the statement said.
“The physical therapist treated Jannik without gloves and combined with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the accidental contamination.”
But the decision to clear him drew strong criticism in the run-up to the US Open, with some players citing perceived inconsistencies.
Kyrios, Denis Shapovalov and Liam Broady all took to social media when they the announcement was made first in August.
Kyrios called the decision “ridiculous”, while both Shapovalov and Broady expressed opinions that other players would have had a different result.
“Ridiculous – whether it was accidental or planned. You tested twice with a banned (steroid) substance… you should be out for 2 years. Your performance improved. Massage cream… Yeah, nice,” Kyrgios wrote on X .
“Different rules for different players,” Canadian Denis Shapovalov wrote on X. “Can’t imagine what all the other players suspended for contaminated substances are feeling right now.”
Roger Federer said he believed Sinner had done nothing wrong, but was surprised he had been allowed to continue competing.
“I think we all pretty much trust that Jannik didn’t do anything.” Federer said on NBC’s Today show during last year’s US Open.
“But the inconsistency potentially that he didn’t have to sit out while they weren’t 100 percent 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 way as others?’ And I think that’s where it’s at.”
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