Jannik Sinner faces BREAK POINT as WADA swings into action over dope slur

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After keeping a close watch for over one month, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Saturday (September 28) decided to take the Jannik Sinner case to the CAS - Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Since the time news broke out before the US Open Sinner had been let off after testing positive for Clostebol, a banned substance, earlier in 2024, all hell broke loose. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) had given a clean chit to the Australian Open champion. He recently went on to win the US Open 2024.

If tennis fans and Sinner had thought the flames had been doused, they were in for a surprise. It was well known the WADA had time till September 30 to decide what they wanted to do.

Sure enough, they have appealed the decision and sought a ban of between one and two years, which can derail Sinner's career. Interestingly, the WADA has not pressed for an immediate suspension.

How soon the CAS takes it up and how long the case will go on is unclear. Yet, for Sinner, who is competing right now at the China Open in Beijing, the coming nights are going to be sleepless.

Rewind to the incident when Jannik Sinner had been done in by his physio, who massaged a cream which had Clostebol, Sinner claimed he was unaware of what it contained. When the Italian numero uno was tested at the Indian Wells tournament in March 2024, there were two 'positive tests.'

Sinner had a lot of explaining to do and the ITIA, which looks after the sport of tennis so that it is clean, only slapped a fine of 400 ranking points and a fine of $2,50,000. Even though Sinner had spoken to the media before the US Open and during the last Grand Slam, people frowned upon him.

Someone like Novak Djokovic questioned how there could be a different set of rules for the same set of players. The Serbian was measured in his words but made it clear the anti-doping rules must be applied uniformly. That was more than a broad hint he was unhappy. One man who took on Sinner in a sword-like manner was Australian Nick Kyrgios, who labelled Sinner a cheat. He also threw more muck at Sinner.

How the player continued to focus on tennis and compete at the US Open was admirable. To keep all the negative comments away was not easy at all. Deep down, he knew he was facing anxious moments.

The WADA is well-known to take up cases where it is convinced an athlete is not 100 per cent clear. This is not the first instance and someone like Simona Halep had faced horrible moments after she had tested positive for Roxudstat in October 2022.

She got a clean chit only in 2024, and that, too after a lot of turmoil. Her former coach Patrick Mouratoglou kept saying in his posts that Halep was not guilty. As one who had coached Serena Williams as well, Mouratoglou was firm.

Back to Sinner and how he played in the Laver Cup recently, even Roger Federer was asked about Jannik Sinner. His replies were smart but it was a matter of time before WADA decided to swing into action.

Legal experts will be busy in this high-profile case for sure. Indians are well versed with CAS now after the Vinesh Phogat incident where she had tipped over the scales by 100gm at the Paris 2024 Olympics and was disqualified.

For its part, the ITIA also released a statement on Saturday. "The ITIA acknowledges the WADA decision to appeal the ruling of no fault or negligence in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner. Under the terms of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right to appeal all such decisions," said the statement.

Clostebol is a derivative of testosterone and can help muscle growth and recovery. It has also caused many failed dope tests in sports in Italy, where the products are sold OTC - over the counter.