U-turn! Jannik Sinner is threatened with a doping ban

For a long time everything indicated that tennis superstar Jannik Sinner would get away with it despite testing positive for the banned steroid Clostebol in March. The number one in the ATP rankings successfully appealed against a provisional ban by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and referred the case to an independent court – now suddenly there is a risk of a longer ban again.

Around three weeks after his victory at the US Open, tennis star Jannik Sinner is now apparently facing a longer ban from March 2024 due to his positive doping test. This was confirmed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Saturday. WADA announced that it is appealing the 23-year-old’s acquittal.

The assessment by an independent court that sinners were not guilty and not negligent was “not correct under the current rules,” said an official statement from WADA. That is why they are now applying for “a ban of between one and two years”.

But Sinner probably doesn’t have to worry about a title at the US Open. According to WADA, the results that the 1.91 meter tall right-hander claimed after his controversial acquittal should remain.

Sinner tested positive for small amounts of Clostebol for the first time on March 10, 2024, at the Masters in Indian Wells. Another sample conducted on March 18 during a training period produced the same result.

Kyrgios makes a clear judgment

The top star explained at the time that the substance could have entered his body after contamination by a member of the care team who applied a spray containing Clostebol, which is available without a prescription in Italy, to his own skin. As a result, Sinner separated from his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi and his fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara.

However, Sinner’s supposedly light escape caused mixed reactions in the tennis scene.

“No matter whether intentionally or unintentionally. “You will be tested twice for a (steroid) substance, so you should be out of the picture for two years,” said Australian Nick Kyrgios. Other players, however, show understanding.