- Witnesses to Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) retain the power to lodge an appeal.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) will initially scrutinize thoroughly the decision in the case of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner**. WADA confirmed this to the German Press Agency upon request. The agency held the option to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne if necessary, as it is based in Montreal, Canada.
Contender Kyrgios advocates for a ban
Sinner was found to have used the prohibited anabolic steroid Clostebol twice in March. Despite this, the 23-year-old was not sanctioned. As per the responsible tennis organization ITIA, an independent court cleared the Italian last Thursday. The Italian Open champion was not shown to have intentionally used the banned substance.
At the time of writing, the Italian Anti-Doping Agency had not issued a statement. However, it too has the authority to challenge the ITIA decision, as ITIA itself mentioned in its announcement.
Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios voiced his disapproval of the ITIA decision on X, formerly Twitter. "Ridiculous - whether it was unintentional or premeditated. You test positive for a banned (steroid) substance twice... you ought to be suspended for two years," wrote the 29-year-old, who reached the Wimbledon grass classic final in 2022.
Sinner defended himself in a social media post, claiming that the substance entered his system via his physiotherapist. The caregiver allegedly used a Clostebol-laced spray, which is obtainable over the counter in Italy, to treat a finger wound on Sinner.
ITIA acknowledged the physiotherapist's explanation as plausible, thus choosing not to provisionally suspend Sinner. Following further investigation by the organization, no changes were made in the matter.
As a result of the positive test results, Sinner forfeited the prize money and points for the ATP tournament in Indian Wells, where he reached the semifinals in March, and the positive test occurred.
I'm not completely convinced about the physiotherapist's explanation, but it seems to have been sufficient for the ITIA to clear Sinner. Despite Kyrgios' strong criticism, the decision remains unchanged.
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