WADA clears Jannik Sinner of 'cheating' accusations after agreement reached for three-month ban

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has cleared the world number one Italy’s Jannik Sinner of cheating accusations after failing in doping tests. The 23-year-old, who is widely regarded as the best player currently playing in men’s tennis in the singles category, has been in the news for the wrong reasons after being tested positive for banned substances on two occasions in March last year.

Earlier, Sinner managed to escape any ban as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), in a detailed verdict last year, announced that they found the player innocent in the case. The player’s counsel claimed that the availability of the substance in the player’s sample was because of receiving a cream for the treatment of an injury from one member of the coaching staff.

Things turned ugly for the world number one in October last year where it was announced that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the ITIA’s verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded a two-year ban for the three-time Grand Slam winner. However, earlier today (Saturday) news broke that Sinner has accepted a three-month immediate ban from tennis after reaching an agreement with WADA.

WADA, in its press release, confirmed the development. More importantly, they cleared Sinner of the of cheating accusations and confirmed that the player was innocent in the case which is why both parties managed to find a settlement before their hearing in front of the CAS.

“WADA accepts the athlete’s explanation for the cause of the violation as outlined in the first instance decision,” the statement said. “WADA accepts that Mr. Sinner did not intend to cheat, and that his exposure to clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage. However, under the Code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence. Based on the unique set of facts of this case, a three-month suspension is deemed to be an appropriate outcome. As previously stated, WADA did not seek a disqualification of any results, save that which was previously imposed by the tribunal of first instance. The International Tennis Federation and International Tennis Integrity Agency, both co-respondents to WADA’s CAS appeal, neither of which appealed the first-instance decision, both accepted the case resolution agreement.”