THE WORLD Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against an independent tribunal’s decision in August to clear tennis world number one Jannik Sinner of wrongdoing after he failed drug tests.
WADA said on Saturday the tribunal’s finding of “no fault or negligence” on the Italian’s part was incorrect under the applicable rules, and it would seek “a period of ineligibility of between one and two years” for the Australian Open and US Open champion.
The tribunal, organized by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), had accepted Sinner’s explanation that the anabolic agent clostebol entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy.
Sinner, who beat Roman Safiullin on Saturday to reach the quarterfinals of the China Open, said he was surprised by WADA’s decision. — Reuters
