LAUSANNE, September 28, 2024 - The doping case involving Italian tennis world number 1 Jannik Sinner has taken a new twist after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced on Saturday (September 28) that it has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the ruling of “no fault or negligence” for the two positive tests Sinner returned in March.

Sinner, who recently won his second Grand Slam title at the US Open, twice tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol in March 2024. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) confirmed on August 20 that an independent tribunal convened by Sport Resolutions found that the violation was not intentional, hence no doping ban was imposed on Sinner.

WADA STATEMENT WADA is seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the 23-year-old, who is currently taking part in the China Open.

“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.”

SINNER’S EXPLANATION The ITIA, which handles anti-doping and corruption in tennis, accepted Sinner’s argument that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage from his physiotherapist who had used an over-the-counter spray Trofodermin to treat a cut on his finger. 

According to the ITIA statement on August 20: “The player explained that the substance had entered their system as a result of contamination from a support team member, who had been applying an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to their own skin to treat a small wound. That support team member applied the spray between 5 and 13 March, during which time they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, resulting in unknowing transdermal contamination.