Jannik Sinner doping case appealed by WADA

ROME (AP) — Steroids case involving top tennis player Jannik sinner was the subject of an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency, the Montreal-based organization announced on Saturday.

WADA said it was seeking a one- to two-year suspension for the US Open champion, but indicated it did not anticipate preempting a possible suspension – which would mean Sinner could keep his second Grand Slam title if found guilty.

The announcement was made while Sinner was on court against Roman Safiullin at the China Open in Beijing.

“Obviously, I’m very disappointed and also surprised by this appeal, to be honest, because we’ve had three hearings. The three hearings turned out to be very positive for me,” said Sinner, 23, after beating Safiullin.

“You know, I didn’t expect it. I knew it a few days ago, that they were going to appeal, that today it was going to become official, so… it’s a surprise,” he added. “We’re still talking about the same thing. Maybe they just want to make sure everything is in the right position Yeah, I’m just surprised they appealed.

Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, but was not banned in a decision of an independent tribunal announced by the International Tennis Integrity Agency on August 20 because the ITIA determined it was not responsible.

The explanation accepted by Sinner was that performance enhancer banned entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own severed finger.

WADA announced that it had filed an appeal on Thursday with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, based in Switzerland.

“WADA considers that the finding of absence of fault or negligence was not correct under the applicable rules,” WADA said in a statement. “WADA requests a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA does not seek to disqualify any outcome except one that has already been imposed by the trial court.

WADA suggested the rules had not been followed properly despite tennis integrity prosecutor Nicolas Zbinden – who accepted Sinner’s version of events – being a lawyer who regularly works on high-profile cases for the global watchdog, including the successful appeal against Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva.

A verdict on appeal to CAS could be delivered quickly – even within just a few months – if the parties agree to cooperate. At least that’s how it happened in another high-profile tennis doping case involving Maria Sharapova.

Still, the case likely won’t be resolved until Sinner begins his defense. Australian Open title in January.

Sharapova tested positive at the Australian Open in January 2016 for meldonium, a recently banned heart drug. She was banned for two years in June of that year by the International Tennis Federation.

The Russian star appealed to the CAS, had an appeal hearing in New York before three judges in September and obtained the verdict four weeks later that reduced his suspension to 15 months.

The entire process for Sharapova with CAS lasted only four months, much shorter than most doping cases, which typically last around a year. The schedule may be held up due to the complexities of selecting a jury, finding a hearing date, and exchanging documents and expert witness evidence between the parties.

At the Indian Wells hardcourt event in March, Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid that can be used for ophthalmological and dermatological purposes. It is the same medicine for which San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended by MLB in 2022.

Sinner tested positive again eight days later in an out-of-competition sample.

He was provisionally suspended twice by the tennis integrity body due to the results of these tests, but he successfully appealed twice to an independent judge and was allowed to continue competing on the circuit.

Sinner said his test results were because his fitness trainer purchased an over-the-counter spray called Trofodermin in Italy which contained Clostebol and gave it to Sinner’s physiotherapist to treat a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger. The physiotherapist then treated Sinner without wearing gloves.

The ITIA said it accepted Sinner’s explanation, after 10 interviews with the player and his entourage, and the independent panel agreed at a hearing on August 15.

The ruling by tennis integrity body ordered Sinner to forfeit the $325,000 in prize money and 400 ranking points he earned at the Indian Wells tournament.

Sinner later announced that he had fired both of his coaches.

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AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Lausanne, Switzerland, contributed.

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AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis