Jannik Sinner doping case: Court of Arbitration for Sport to hear WADA appeal against decision to remove men’s world No.1 in April | Tennis news

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal against the decision to clear Jannik Siner of doping charges will be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) next April.

In the year Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam champion in 2024, tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostabol in March last year before being found not guilty by an independent tribunal in August.

But WADA appealed that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September and is seeking a ban of one to two years for the Italian.

On Friday, CAS confirmed that the hearing will be held on April 16 and 17.

It is WADA’s view that WADA’s finding of “no error or negligence” in announcing the appeal was not justified under the applicable laws.

“WADA is looking for a period of ineligibility of one to two years. WADA is not looking to disqualify any result unless it has already been imposed by a court of first instance.”

Sinner, who has always protested his innocence, said he was “saddened” and “surprised” by WADA’s appeal.

A statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency at the time said: “The ITIA has confirmed that it has decided to appeal the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against Italian tennis player Yannick Sinner by an independent body. Court appointed by Sports Decisions on August 19, 2024.

“Under the World Anti-Doping Act, WADA has the final right to appeal such decisions.

Following a thorough investigation, the case was referred to a tribunal completely independent of the ITIA, with a unique set of circumstances and sanctions imposed due to the absence of the same precedent.

“The proceedings were conducted in accordance with the International Anti-Doping Guidelines. However, the ITIA accepts and respects WADA’s right to appeal to an independent tribunal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

How did a forbidden substance enter a sinner’s body? What were the problems?

In the case filed by the ITIA, the court accepted Siner’s explanation that the banned substance was injected into the body by the physiotherapist using a steroid spray on a cut finger.

Sinner then fired physio Giacomo Naldi and trainer Umberto Ferrara, who was spraying Naldi without a prescription.

Although Cinner was expected to forfeit 400 ranking points and $325,000 in prize money from Indian Wells, he continued to compete and won the US Open in September to add to his earlier Australian Open win. year.

“It was really hard for me to enjoy some moments. Also, how I worked or how I went on the court in certain tournaments, it wasn’t what it used to be,” Sinner said after his win on the court in Flushing.

“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure, but I tried to focus the other way, which I think I did a good job mentally of staying there every point I played, and that’s it.

‘Funny’ – how the tennis world reacted at first

Siner, 23, has maintained his innocence, saying the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than one billion grams.

In a statement issued on his behalf in August, he said he had no knowledge of the breach.

“Jannik did not know anything about this, and he did not know that the physiotherapist was using a product containing clostebol,” the statement read.

“The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and, combined with the various skin lesions on Jannik’s body, caused unintended contamination.”

But the decision to clear it came in for strong criticism at the US Open, with some players citing inconsistencies.

Nick Kyrgios, Denis Shapovalov and Liam Brodie all took to social media when the announcement was first made in August.

Kyrgios called the decision ‘ridiculous’, with both Shapovalov and Brody commenting that other players could have had a different result.

“Funny – either by accident or by design. You get tested for a banned substance (steroids) twice… You have to be banned for 2 years. Your performance has improved. Massage cream…. Yes, it’s good,” Kyrgios posted. X.

Canadian Denis Shapovalov posted “Different rules for different players” on X. “It’s impossible to imagine how all the players who have been banned for contaminated substances are feeling right now.”

Roger Federer believed Sinner had done nothing wrong but was surprised he was allowed to continue in the tournament.

“I think we all believe Yannick didn’t do anything,” Federer said on NBC’s Today show at the U.S. Open last year.

But the inconsistency of not having to sit down when you’re not 100 percent sure what’s going on, I think that’s the question that needs to be answered here.

“Is he booked like the others?” I understand the frustration. And I think that’s where it comes in.”

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