How long could Jannik Sinner be suspended? CAS to decide in April
ATP
Jannik Sinner is facing a crucial moment in his career as he prepares to appear before the CAS once again regarding his doping case. The three-time Grand Slam champion tested positive for two samples of clostebol back in March 2024, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) concluded that there was "no fault or negligence" on the player's part, sparing him from a suspension.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced a month later that it would appeal, seeking a sanction for the Italian. As a result, Sinner will now face a ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), an independent tribunal set to make a decision between April 16 and 17.
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For now, Sinner remains active on the ATP Tour without restrictions. He began the season by winning his third major title at the Australian Open after defeating Alexander Zverev in the final. He withdrew from this week's ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam but is set to compete in the Qatar Open next week, followed by Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March.
In April, the last tournament Sinner could play without issues would be Monte Carlo. If he receives a suspension, it could take effect starting the week of the Madrid Open.
Ahead of Sinner’s CAS hearing, former CAS judge and lawyer Angelo Cascella spoke to the Italian outlet L’identità about the situation. “It is clear that a prohibited substance was found in the athlete’s body. There is no question about Sinner’s good faith. However, WADA is requesting a suspension of one to two years due to negligence, as the athlete is also responsible for the actions of his team.”
“The fact that the doping quantity did not enhance Sinner’s performance does not matter in terms of disqualification. If an anabolic steroid is banned and found in an athlete’s body, it is an objective finding, and he could be sanctioned,” the sports law expert added.
“Unless circumstances like those of former Atalanta player José Luis Palomino apply—he got contaminated by petting his dog, which had been taken to a kennel and unknowingly treated with an ointment containing banned substances,” Cascella explained. “In Sinner’s case, however, it was his own staff who contaminated him, and he could be held responsible for it.”
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- This is just getting beyond ridiculous!! Not to mention unsportsmanlike and unfair to serious up & coming contenders.
mandoist06-02-2025 - No, writer, we were not "stunned". If you knew your business you would have been aware of her statement last weekend re: her knee and retirement. The main take-away here is that Simona went out on her own terms. She surely wanted to play again after WTA & ITIA screwed her out of her final productive seasons. Personally, I believed she was going to make this announcement when I saw the President and his family in their box seats. Good for Simone -- now she can move on to other things as she said she would.mandoist04-02-2025
- It sounds seriously absurd that in Davis Cup, (unlike Grand Slams such as the Aus Open), medical time outs off court with the medical staff are not allowed?? I mean, if this was an Aus Open match, and the same thing happened to Gurin then, he would have been able to go off court for official medical time out and make an informed decision whether to resume the match or retire. How come such conditions do not apply in Davis Cup?? I mean, there with Davis Cup, it is even more like a soccer match or basketball game in that teams are playing. And so as with those, it ought to be the case in tennis that if a player needs serious medical time out, then one of the other team mates ought to substitute and each team needs to have stand-ins or understudies in case substitution is needed which will be rare but as we can see here, this kind of circumstance fits. But even if the teams do not go down the road of subbing other team mates in, in case of a health issue like the one which played out here, at least, as in the Aus Open and other Grand Slams, there ought to be time-outs with the health professionals and at the conclusion of these time-outs, the particular decision that has been reached between them and the player needs to be taken on board by the umpire. PERIOD.
Sueiyin04-02-2025 - "If Novak did this, he would be defaulted for life. WTF." 🤣 WTF sounds like What Tennis Fury?! What Tennis Flurry??! I mean, se-rious-ly, it was actually the unfairness of the silly umpire's decision that is the issue here! Further, how come it was Gurin & his team who got disqualified? If this kind of thing happens in soccer, it would be the other guy getting the yellow or red card! Because after all, it was the Belgian who's foul it was so why then penalize the opponents for something they didn't instigate? Fouls in both basketball and soccer are read as a hinderance that has been caused by the player who INITIALLY instigated the hinderance. In this case, okay, it is tennis, but while the precise rules are different to either soccer or basketball, the same type of recognition as to whoever instigates a hinderance should apply, and in this case, it was the Belgian player.Sueiyin04-02-2025
- Medvedev talking to his form here. "Some actual deep problem." 🤣😂🤣MrAndreeva03-02-2025
- "Hopefully, the team around her will help... " Actually, the lack thereof seems to have been part of the problem(s). Another possibility is that, while dealing with legitimate surgeries, withdrawing, and otherwise passing on events, the competition has stepped-up in intensity while she was busy with traveling, photo shoots, and TV commercials.mandoist03-02-2025
- Ha-ha-ha... Translation: I'll help as long as I don't have to meet in person and endure the ongoing BS"mandoist03-02-2025
- Well said.mandoist03-02-2025
- So tennisuptodate doesn't even make this event a headline on this site? I had to find it hidden here. Not a word about Yastremska trying to ruin Alexandrova's celebration with her postgame actions?? According to WTA regulations, Yastremska has some punishment coming her way for walking-off court, blowing-off postgame rituals with the winner; including no photos, etc.mandoist03-02-2025
- "So while perhaps the big issue of having to wait for a call-up is there, so is the coaching carousel. .." Well, there you go. Emma's 'career' in one precise sentence. Sponsors bailing-out on her will follow (so far, only Porsche and Dior).mandoist02-02-2025
