Tennis: Jannik Sinner is threatened with a ban – Wada is appealing against the world number one

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner still faces a ban despite being acquitted after two positive doping tests. The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada announced that it had lodged an appeal with the Cas International Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne last Thursday.

The world’s number one sinner tested positive twice for the banned anabolic steroid Clostebol in March. The 23-year-old did not receive a ban. The responsible tennis agency Itia justified the acquittal by saying that no intentional fault or negligence could be proven on the part of the two-time Grand Slam tournament winner.

According to WADA, this statement is “not correct according to the applicable rules”. WADA, based in Montreal, Canada, is therefore calling for “a ban of one to two years” for sinners. However, the authority did not request additional deletion of results in addition to those that had already been ordered by the court of first instance. Sinner won the US Open at the beginning of September.

“Of course I am very disappointed and also surprised. I didn’t expect that,” Sinner said at the ATP tournament in Beijing, according to Italian media. He had known for a few days that Wada had lodged an appeal and that it would now be officially announced. “But yes, it is still a surprise.” However, Sinner emphasized that he was convinced of his innocence.

Lack of understanding in the tennis scene

In terms of sport, he was not impressed by the news. In the round of 16, after initial problems, he won against the Russian Roman Safiullin 3:6, 6:2, 6:3. With his 57th win of the season, he drew level with leader Alexander Zverev in this ranking.

In a statement he posted on social media, Sinner explained that the substance entered his body through the hands of his physical therapist. Accordingly, the carer in Italy used an over-the-counter spray containing Clostebol to treat a cut on his finger.

The Itia considered a scientific expert sinner’s explanation to be credible. That’s why the tennis agency refrained from suspending Sinner, at least temporarily. This caused a lack of understanding within the tennis scene.