Breaking news: Jannik Sinner drug suspension could be ‘seismic’ as appeal date looms…
Jannikk Sinner is facing a potentially “seismic” suspension as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appeals the decision that initially cleared him of wrongdoing. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is set to hear the case on April 16-17, 2025, and if the appeal is successful, Sinner could face a minimum one-year suspension, with the possibility of a two-year ban.
Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that the substance entered his system through accidental contamination from a cream used by a member of his team. As a result, ITIA found no fault or negligence and did not impose a suspension. However, WADA is challenging this ruling, arguing that some level of fault should be attributed to Sinner.
If CAS sides with WADA, Sinner could be banned for at least a year, which would force him to miss all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, stripping him of his world No. 1 ranking. Unlike other recent doping cases, such as Iga Świątek’s one-month ban for a contaminated medication, Sinner’s case does not involve a contaminated product but rather exposure to a known banned substance, making the potential penalty more severe.
The appeal process could take several months, though a decision is expected within weeks of the hearing. If the verdict goes against him, Sinner’s legal options for further appeal would be limited, potentially only to the Swiss Federal Tribunal on procedural grounds.