WADA lodges formal appeal to CAS to overturn ITIA ruling and ban world number one Jannik Sinner for doping

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on Saturday confirmed that it has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to overturn the decision of International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) and ban world number one Jannik Sinner for doping.

The 23-year-old, who recently won the US Open 2024 men's singles title by beating American Taylor Fritz in straight sets, twice tested positive for clostebol, a prohibited substance, in March 2024.

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Last month, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in their ruling stated that the banned substance entered Sinner's system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.

Sinner in his defence had stated that his trainer Umberto Ferrara purchased an over-the-counter spray that contained Clostebol and gave it to Naldi, who used it on one of his wounded fingers. Naldi then gave Sinner a massage.

"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," WADA said in its release.

"As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time," it added.

During a US Open 2024 press conference Sinner confirmed that he had parted ways with Ferrara and Naldi.

"Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them. The only thing I just need right now, just some clean air. You know, I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air," Sinner, who won the Australian Open at the start of the year, had said.

Several tennis stars including Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalo had accused ITIA of double standards. “Can’t imagine what every other player that got banned for contaminated substances is feeling right now. Different rules for different players," Denis Shapovalov posted on X.