Sinner drugs case: CAS commences proceedings in WADA appeal

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has commenced official proceedings in the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal in Italian Jannik Sinner‘s doping case. WADA has moved CAS to challenge a verdict by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) which cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing, ruling ‘No Fault or Negligence’.

On failing two drugs tests for Clostebol during the Indian Wells Open in March this year, now world No 1 Sinner argued that the banned substance reached his body through his ex-physio Giacomo Naldi’s laxness. The ITIA ordered Sinner to lose the ranking points and prize money he earned there but didn’t impose a ban.

The CAS recently registered the statements of plea lodged by WADA, seeking revocation of ITIA’s ruling and a period of ineligibility ranging between 12 and 24 months for Sinner.

“In its appeal to the CAS, WADA seeks the annulment of the Challenged Decision and a new decision ruling that Jannik Sinner has committed two ADRVs [Anti-Doping Rule Violations] pursuant to Articles 2.1 and/or 2.2 TADP [Tennis Anti-Doping Programme], without application of Article 10.5 TADP (“No fault or Negligence”).

“WADA requests CAS to impose a sanction of a period of ineligibility between one and two years on the Athlete and to confirm the disqualification of all competitive results obtained by Jannik Sinner during the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells/USA.”

No time frame on appeal

The next step in the trial would be the constitution of an arbitration panel but the CAS hasn’t put forth a deadline for the decision.

“In accordance with the Code of Sports-related Arbitration (the CAS Code), the arbitration rules governing CAS procedures, the parties are exchanging written submissions and the Panel of arbitrators that will decide the matter is being constituted.

“Once constituted, the Panel will issue procedural directions for the next phase of the procedure, including the holding of a hearing. Following the hearing, the Panel will deliberate and issue an Arbitral Award containing its decision and the grounds for it. At this time, it is not possible to indicate a time frame for the issuance of the decision.”

Sinner is currently competing in China, chasing victory in the Shanghai Masters.

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