Time is ticking for any potential appeals to be submitted regarding the case that cleared newly crowned U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner of doping allegations. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Nado Italia, Italy’s anti-doping agency, are facing a deadline of only one more day to challenge the decision made by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Aug. 20. The window for appeals spans 21 days from the time the involved parties received the ruling, with any potential appeal expected to be directed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Switzerland.
Sinner had tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March but was not subjected to suspension as the ITIA concluded that the banned substance entered his system inadvertently during a massage from his physiotherapist. The doping incident remained undisclosed until the recent announcement, following which Sinner, the top-ranked player, went on to triumph over Taylor Fritz in the U.S. Open final.
While there have been concerns expressed by other players about the confidentiality of Sinner’s case, WADA and Nado Italia are likely focused on the scientific specifics of the issue. Sinner and his legal team have presented comprehensive scientific evidence supporting the credibility of his account. The tennis star stated that the period leading up to the resolution of his case was quite challenging and that he only started to feel like himself again during the tournament.
Sinner has clarified that his positive test results stemmed from using an over-the-counter spray bought by his fitness trainer in Italy, containing a banned substance that was then inadvertently transferred to him by his physiotherapist. Following ten interviews with Sinner and his team, the ITIA accepted his explanation, and an independent panel validated this during a hearing on Aug. 15.
If an appeal is unsuccessful, Sinner could potentially face a ban, likely backdated to March, with a maximum duration of two years rather than four, which is typically reserved for intentional doping cases. The sports court, CAS, would likely be responsible for communicating any appeal proceedings, as neither WADA nor Nado Italia typically publicize appeals.
Moreover, according to Italian lawyer Giovanni Fontana, Sinner’s trainers might face a separate investigation in Italy, drawing attention to a previous case involving a club doctor at an Italian soccer team, who received a four-year suspension for administering a similar substance to a player in 2018.
