Has anyone dominated the tennis courts in 2024 more than Jannik Sinner? The 23 -year -old Italian had a season to remember, claiming the Australian Open and US Open titles, leading Italy to the glory of the Davis Cup, and ending the year with a victory in the ATP final as only world n ° 1. But even with a trophy season, the controversy found it. Sinner’s year ended in complicated circumstances as he faced doping allegations and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The world number one’s case revolves around two positive tests for clostebol, an anabolic steroid, during the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells in March 2024. He explained that the substance entered his body by accident via his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi. Nardi had used Trophodermin, an over-the-counter spray, to treat a cut on his finger and had massaged Thinner without gloves, causing contamination. An independent tribunal found Thinner had committed “misconduct or negligence” based on scientific evidence, but WADA was not convinced. They filed an appeal in September 2024, requesting a one- to two-year delay. The CAS could now hear the case in early 2025.
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA), has revealed the sanctions Sinner could face, explaining to Tennis365 the complexity of the case and how it differs from other doping cases. She said, “If you test positive for a prohibited substance, the starting point for a possible disqualification is four years. If it can be proven that it was not intentional, the sentence is reduced to two years. At this point, we need to differentiate several. “
In the case of Swiatek, we are talking about contaminated products (medicine), but for sinners, he used a product that contains the doping and active ingredients of his finger, so he is not polluted. There is the complexity of being. For this reason, the disqualification interval will be one to two years, “said Moore House.
Although Sinner’s team has compelling evidence to support its claim of accidental contamination, the risks are great, and his case has been strengthened by the ITIA’s initial ruling in his favor. The court’s acceptance of Nardi’s account and supporting evidence, such as his interview, demonstrates its belief in Sinner’s innocence.
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