WADA appeals to CAS on Jannik Sinner doping case, seeks 1-2 year ban on player

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has sent an appeal to the Court Of Arbitration of Sport (CAS) against the independent tribunal's decision to clear Jannik Sinner of any 'wrongdoing or negligence' after he failed drug tests.

In Short

• Sinner won the Australian and US Opens
• WADA said the decision of the tribunal was wrong
• WADA wants Sinner to be banned for one or two years

The World Anti-Doping Agency has confirmed that they have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an independent tribunal's decision in August to clear World No.1 Jannik Sinner of any wrongdoing after he failed drug tests. The Italian was cleared of any wrongdoing or negligence by the tribunal as he would go on to win the US Open.

WADA released a statement on their website saying that they appealed to the CAS on September 26 and believe that the decision of the tribunal was wrong under the applicable rules. The agency also said that5 they want Sinner to be given a ban of either one or two years.

"The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirms that on Thursday 26 September, it lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case of Italian tennis player, Jannik Sinner, who was found by an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to bear no fault or negligence having twice tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024."

"It is WADA’s view that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was not correct under the applicable rules. WADA 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."

"As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time," read the statement.

How Sinner was cleared

Sinner was exonerated of any fault after testing positive for Clostebol, a banned substance, in March. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) conducted an investigation, which revealed that the Italian player had unknowingly been contaminated during treatment by his physiotherapist.

The incident occurred when Sinner’s fitness trainer provided the physiotherapist with a product to treat a cut on the physio’s finger. Unaware that the product contained Clostebol, the physio applied it to Sinner without gloves, inadvertently transferring the banned substance to the player. Both the physiotherapist and Sinner were unaware that the product contained Clostebol.

For context, it is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derived from testosterone. In response, Sinner emphasised his respect for the sport’s strict anti-doping rules, which have allowed him to enjoy significant success over the past year.