WADA director opens up about the Jannik Sinner doping case

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli has provided some clarity on the pending case of Jannik Sinner with the CAS. The World No. 1-ranked Italian player tested positive for trace amounts of Clostebol, a banned doping substance, during the Indian Wells Tour earlier this year. However, it was revealed later, ahead of the US Open, that Sinner had successfully appealed the doping violation charges with the ITIA by then. The player went on to win the US Open title, his second Grand Slam victory of the year, but not before WADA intervened in his case.

After being tested twice during the Indian Wells Tour and coming up positive both times for Clostebol, Jannik Sinner claimed that the substance entered his body accidentally. In an independent tribunal held by the ITIA, Sinner's reasoning was deemed valid, as the top-ranked player was treated under the "no fault or negligence" criteria. Sinner claimed that his coach had used an over-the-counter (OTC) medication to treat a cut, which unknowingly led to the substance entering his system. While the ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation, WADA disagreed and escalated the case to the CAS, appealing for a two-year ban on the 23-year-old player.

In a recent interaction, WADA director general Olivier Niggli explained the rationale behind the appeal to the CAS. Niggli clarified that WADA does not doubt Sinner's claim but expects the Italian to bear responsibility for his team and their actions. Moreover, Niggli stated that no ruling could be expected in the case before 2025. Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner, who ended the 2024 ATP season with two Grand Slam titles, eight ATP titles, including the Nitto ATP Finals, and the year-end No. 1 ranking, is preparing to play the Australian Open to kick off the 2025 ATP season.

"There will be nothing by the end of the year," WADA director general Olivier Niggli said regarding the anticipated hearing of the Jannik Sinner case in the CAS.

"It was considered in the decision that there was no fault on the part of Sinner. Our position is that there is still a responsibility of the athlete in relation to his entourage," Niggli said about WADA's stance on the re-appeal. "So it is this legal point that will be debated (before CAS). We do not dispute the fact that it could have been a contamination. But we believe that the application of the rules does not correspond to the case law," he added.