New Scary Chapter In Jannik Sinner’s Doping Case Arises

As Jannik Sinner shone in his second round match at the China Open, The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced it has filed an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the Italian’s anti-doping case. WADA is seeking a ban of one or two years for the World No. 1 who tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid.

Sinner was not suspended in a decision by an independent tribunal announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) six days before he claimed his US Open triumph. The ITIA determined he was not to blame. The two-time Grand Slam champion just reached the China Open quarterfinals after defeating Roman Safiullin in three sets 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday.

Photo byMoises AlexonUnsplash

Sinner Just Showed His Power Of Recovery

On court in the Chinese capital, Sinner came from a set down once again to reach the quarterfinals. In the previous round against Nicolas Jarry, the Italian showed his powers of recovery once more, emerging with a 3-6, 6-2,6-3 victory in just over two hours. Sinner’s power from the baseline gradually chipped away at his Russian opponent.

Sinner won seven straight games from 2-2 in the second set to prevail. The Italian never looked back and set the tone with an early break to book his place in the last eight. Sinner, who has reached at least the quarterfinals at every tour-level event he has played in 2024, will next play Jiri Lehecka who defeated Roberto Bautista Agut 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The Doping Case is Now Far From Over

Sinner twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March. He then was found to bear “no fault or negligence” by an independent tribunal after the ITIA accepted his explanation for how the banned substance entered his body. WADA believes the finding is not correct and wants to have the case reviewed. In a statement, WADA declares it, “is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.”

Sinner’s positive test came during Indian Wells on March 10 and March 18. He was stripped of his prize money and ranking points from that event but faced no further sanctions. Sinner successfully appealed with an argument that he was contaminated by his team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on his wounded hand when giving a massage.

Former trainer Umberto Ferrara purchased the product in Italy and gave it to former physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, who used it to treat a finger cut and then massaged Sinner without wearing gloves. These two people were let go by Sinner ahead of the US Open. Following his victory, the 23-year-old hired two past members of Novak Djokovic’s team to replace them. News of Sinner's positive tests, case handling, and forfeiting of points and prize money earned at Indian Wells were not made public until August 20. It was only a day after Sinner captured the Cincinnati Open crown.

Will This Impact His Performance

The failed drug test issue has previously become a big concern especially when it arose during the final Grand Slam of the year. Sinner admitted he had been worried by the situation at that moment. Despite having this concern, the Italian still made his move to claim his second Gram Slam title.

Now, he has been put back under investigation again when previously saying he hoped it would be his last time in this kind of situation. The decision from WADA to strike an appeal and seek a ban of up to two years will be another big challenge to his mentality. Sinner admitted he was surprised to know about the appeal. He stated that he had three hearings before this and all of them came out very positively for him. “I knew it a couple of days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it’s going to go official,” he said.

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Article originally written by Tania Rompas