Jannik Sinner’s situation on the tennis circuit has taken a dramatic turn, as legal experts suggest that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is likely to succeed in its appeal against the decision made by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The appeal could result in a lengthy suspension for the World No. 1.
Earlier this year, Sinner faced a serious doping issue when he twice tested positive for clostebol, a banned substance, in March. However, the ITIA ruled that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” in the matter, deciding against imposing a ban. The Italian player explained that the substance entered his system accidentally during a massage from his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who had used a clostebol-containing spray to treat a finger injury. Naldi, it was argued, later gave the massage without gloves, inadvertently transferring the substance to Sinner’s body.
Despite the ruling, Sinner was stripped of his ranking points and prize money from the Indian Wells Open, but he was permitted to continue playing. Now, however, WADA has stepped in, appealing the ITIA decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). The agency contends that the ITIA’s “no fault or negligence” verdict was inconsistent with the rules, and it is seeking a suspension for Sinner, potentially lasting from one to two years.
Tim Fuller, a prominent Australian sports lawyer who has represented athletes like swimmer Shayna Jack in similar legal cases, believes that WADA’s appeal is likely to succeed. Jack, despite proving her unintentional ingestion of a banned substance, was still handed a 24-month competition ban. Reflecting on Sinner’s case, Fuller predicted that the original decision would be overturned.
“I believe that the no fault or negligence decision will be overturned on appeal and a sanction will be imposed,” Fuller told The Sydney Morning Herald. He went on to explain the logic behind WADA’s position: “All WADA is really doing here is acknowledging that the incident was unintentional, but they argue that Sinner bears some degree of fault or negligence for what happened. Ultimately, athletes are held to strict liability standards, meaning they are responsible for what enters their body.”
Fuller further elaborated, suggesting that WADA’s argument hinges on the level of fault or negligence in Sinner’s case. “They’re likely to classify the level of fault as somewhere between mid- to high-range. That’s why they are pushing for a suspension of one to two years. A one-year suspension would likely reflect the higher end of the low fault range.”
As Sinner awaits the hearing of his case, scheduled for after February 12 next year, the outcome of the appeal remains uncertain. However, the legal trajectory suggests that the ITIA’s decision may be revisited, with WADA’s appeal challenging the initial verdict and seeking a harsher penalty for the Italian star. The case has raised important questions about the responsibility athletes bear for the substances that enter their bodies, even if unintentional.