WADA Appeals Decision That Cleared World No. 1 Tennis Player Jannik Sinner
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has announced its intention to appeal the decision that cleared world No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner after he tested positive for a banned substance, clostebol, an anabolic steroid. The appeal comes after an independent tribunal found Sinner not at fault, citing inadvertent contamination from his physiotherapist’s treatment of a minor injury.
Sinner, who is currently competing in the China Open, had tested positive twice in March 2024. The ITIA’s independent tribunal accepted his explanation that the contamination occurred when his physiotherapist used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol on their own skin to treat a finger cut and then massaged Sinner without wearing gloves, leading to unintended contamination.
WADA has stated that it believes the finding of “no fault or negligence” was incorrect under the applicable rules and is seeking a period of ineligibility ranging from one to two years for Sinner. However, WADA is not seeking to disqualify any of Sinner’s results, except for those already imposed by the initial tribunal, which withheld prize money and ranking points earned at Indian Wells where he reached the semifinals.
