Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner is set to appear before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in April for the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal seeking to impose a ban on him from the sport for at least one year. The closed-doors hearing is scheduled to take place on April 16-17 at CAS headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.
No specific timeline has been provided for a verdict, but a fast-track decision could be requested before the French Open commences on May 25. WADA is contesting a decision made last year by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, which opted not to suspend Sinner following what was deemed accidental contamination by a banned anabolic steroid in March.
Sinner’s defense, attributing trace amounts of Clostebol in his doping sample to a massage from a trainer who inadvertently used the substance after cutting his finger, was accepted. Despite the controversy, Sinner went on to claim victory at the U.S. Open in September, with details of his case only coming to light after his successful appeal against a provisional ban.
The 23-year-old Italian has faced skepticism from fellow players, with some, including Novak Djokovic, suggesting he received preferential treatment from tennis authorities. The ongoing scrutiny surrounding the case has accompanied Sinner to Melbourne this week as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title.
WADA has urged CAS to consider a ban ranging from one to two years for Sinner. The outcome of the upcoming hearing will be closely watched by the tennis community and fans alike.
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