Sinner doping case: key questions answered after WADA appeal

‍Jannik Sinner, the current men’s tennis world No. 1, tested positive for Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, in March of this year. The positive results came from two tests: one conducted on March 10 during the Indian Wells tournament and another in an out-of-competition test on March 18 before the Miami Open. Both tests detected trace amounts of the substance, amounting to less than a billionth of a gram. Following these results, Sinner was provisionally suspended on April 4 but successfully appealed the suspension a day later.

Sinner explained that the positive tests were caused by contamination from his fitness trainer, Giacomo Naldi, who had been using an over-the-counter spray called Trofodermin to treat a cut on his finger. The spray, which contains Clostebol, was applied without gloves, and Sinner argued that he was unknowingly contaminated while Naldi worked on him. An independent tribunal in August ruled in favor of Sinner, clearing him of fault or negligence.

However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has since appealed this decision, disputing the tribunal’s ruling of no fault. WADA has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but as of now, no hearing date has been set. Given the backlog of cases at CAS, it is possible that Sinner’s case may not be heard until 2025. Despite the appeal, Sinner remains free to compete, and if the case is not resolved before the Australian Open in January 2025, he will be eligible to participate in the tournament.