Bombshell as world number one Jannik Sinner issued court hearing for doping – as he faces a possible TWO-YEAR ban from the sport
- Jannik Sinner could receive a two-year ban
- WADA has appealed the decision not to ban the Italian
- Was approved by International Tennis Integrity Agency
- Follows two positive doping tests from last March
World number one Jannik Sinner will make his defense at the Australian Open knowing that a court hearing in Switzerland in three months could sentence him to a possible two-year ban for doping.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport, (CAS) the highest tribunal in sports, announced on Friday that it had set a date for a closed-door hearing on April 16 and 17 at its headquarters in Lausanne on the world’s two positive doping tests. from last year.
CAS will hear an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the sport’s decision not to ban Sinner, despite the Italian testing positive twice for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled it was due to accidental contamination, but WADA is disputing the verdict and asking for a ban on two-time grand slam winner Sinner, winner of the US Open and last year’s Melbourne last year, for a period of one to six months. two years.
CAS did not give a timetable for issuing a ruling, although the sides could request an accelerated decision before the French Open starts on May 25.
Sinner’s explanation for the two positive tests was that they resulted from a massage from a trainer who used the substance after cutting his own finger, and this was accepted by the ITIA.
Jannik Sinner will enter his Australian Open defense knowing that a court hearing in Switzerland in April could sentence him to a possible two-year ban for doping
The Court of Arbitration for Sport, (CAS) the highest tribunal in sports, announced on Friday that it will hear an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the sport’s decision not to ban Sinner.
Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios has loudly suggested his belief that Sinner received preferential treatment
Sinner went on to win the US Open in September after details of his case were revealed, with the 23-year-old Italian subsequently facing skepticism from other players, including Australian Nick Kyrgios, who suggested he had received preferential treatment.
The ongoing controversy surrounding the case has driven Sinner to Melbourne, with the Italian admitting on Friday that the saga was still on his mind.
‘Yes, of course you think about that. I’d be lying if I told you I forgot. No, it’s not like that,” Sinner told reporters.
“It’s something I’ve had with me for a long time now, but [you know] it is what it is.
‘I’m trying to prepare for the grand slam here.
“Let’s see how it goes,” added the 23-year-old, who will face Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the first round.
Number one seed Sinner has been given $2.30 odds by the bookmakers to win his third career Grand Slam title.
The Australian Open starts on January 12.