Jannik Sinner drug scandal will put tennis on trial as world No 1 faces uncertain future

Tennis has been rocked to its core after it was confirmed Jannik Sinner could face a ban following his failed drug test, with the World Anti-Doping Agency confirming they will push for a lengthy ban for the world No 1.

Sinner said he was “very disappointed and also surprised” to be facing the renewed threat of a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency launched an appeal against a ruling of “no fault or negligence” for two positive tests he returned in March.

Sinner, who won the US Open earlier this month, twice tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March but on August 20 an independent tribunal determined he was not to blame and imposed no punishment.

The tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage from his physio, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a cut on their finger.

But WADA has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the 23-year-old Italian. The appeal was lodged on Thursday but announced on Saturday morning.

Speaking after he rallied to beat Roman Safiullin 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open, Sinner said: “I’m very disappointed and also surprised by the appeal to be honest. I was not expecting it. Maybe they just want to make sure everything is in the right position.”

A statement from WADA said: “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.”

A statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency said: “The ITIA acknowledges the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decision to appeal the ruling of no fault or negligence in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, issued by an independent tribunal appointed by Sport Resolutions on 19 August 2024.

“Under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right to appeal all such decisions.

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“Having reached an agreed set of facts following a thorough investigative process, the case was referred to a tribunal entirely independent of the ITIA to determine the level of fault and therefore sanction because of the unique set of circumstances, and lack of comparable precedent.

“The process was run according to world anti-doping code guidelines. However, the ITIA acknowledges and respects WADA’s right to appeal the independent tribunal’s decision in the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

The ITIA has faced intense scrutiny following their decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing following his positive drug test and their processes will now be under the spotlight again following news of WADA’s intervention.

There may also be questions over whether Sinner will be allowed to continue playing while his case is heard, with Coco Gauff’s former coach Brad Gilbert among those giving their reaction to the news.

Gilbert admitted he was stunned by the twist in this story, as he suggested the small amount of the drug found in Sinner’s system suggested he was not guilty.

“I am completely dishevelled by this Wada decision. It (clostebol) was 8000 times smaller than a gram of salt,” said Gilbert on X.

“This now will, unfortunately, take months to figure out, where is the player’s representation on this, other than Sinner paying for his own lawyers.”

Sinner’s nightmare has now come back to haunt him and this looks certain to be the biggest story in tennis heading into 2025, with the world No 1 facing a long battle to clear his name all over again.

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