The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has filed an appeal regarding the steroid case involving top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner, as announced by the Montreal-based organization. WADA is pushing for a ban of one to two years for the U.S. Open champion after he tested positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March. Despite the positive tests, Sinner was not banned following a decision by an independent tribunal announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on August 20, as they determined he was not at fault.
According to reports, Sinner’s explanation for the presence of the banned substance in his system was that it entered inadvertently during a massage session conducted by his physiotherapist. The physiotherapist reportedly used a spray containing the steroid to treat their own cut finger, which inadvertently led to the substance getting into Sinner’s system.
WADA’s appeal was submitted to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport on Thursday, contesting the ruling of ‘no fault or negligence’ made by the ITIA. In a statement issued by WADA, they expressed their disagreement with the previous decision and stated that they are seeking a period of ineligibility ranging from one to two years for Sinner. However, WADA clarified that they are not looking to disqualify any of Sinner’s past results, except for the measures already imposed by the initial tribunal.
This case has garnered significant attention in the tennis world, raising debates and discussions about the complexities of anti-doping regulations and the unintentional ingestion of banned substances. As the appeal process unfolds, stakeholders in the sporting community eagerly await the final decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport regarding Jannik Sinner’s doping case.
