The tennis world continued to turn over the weekend as if nothing had happened. The ATP Tour posted highlights of its stars; They celebrated a sinfully expensively produced advertising clip for an absurdly well-paid show spectacle in Saudi Arabia. Each in a leading role: the world number one Jannik Sinner. The Italian’s doping affair is entering the next round.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) is appealing to the Cas Sports Court against the acquittal of the South Tyrolean, who tested positive twice. The reason: Under the current anti-doping rules, Sinner is definitely guilty and was at least negligent when the banned steroid Clostebol got into his body. The consequence: “A ban of between one and two years”.
There is a lot at stake
That would be nothing less than an earthquake in the insular scene of highly paid global stars; a severe punishment for the number one, for a 23-year-old who was chosen to shape an era that would bring unbridled growth to tennis even beyond the golden Federer-Nadal-Djokovic days. But after his return he would have to live with the label “doping offender”.
So there is a lot at stake when the CAS reviews the decision of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). They had passed the case on to an independent court, which punished the positive samples from the tournament in Indian Wells in March by deducting prize money and points, but did not want to find Sinner guilty or negligent. So he never had to sit out.
Even these days, while his case is making waves again, Sinner is on the pitch; on Saturday he was playing in Beijing against the Russian Roman Safiullin, when Wada published the objection that it had already submitted to the Cas on Thursday. After his victory, he said he was “disappointed and surprised.” Three previous hearings had ultimately been “very positive” for him.
Alcaraz: “I feel for him”
He later announced that he had nothing to hide, would cooperate fully, as he had done in the summer, and would provide “everything necessary to prove my innocence once again.” However, he found it “difficult to see what use it would be if three other judges re-examined the same facts and documents.” He did not want to comment further on the ongoing proceedings.
Others commented on this. Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz showed understanding for his opponent. “I feel for him,” said the Spaniard, who hopes that “this thing will be over soon.” The reaction in Sinner’s home country of Italy was violent, not least in the media. “Wada wants to stop Sinner,” wrote Corriere dello. In the opinion of Tuttosport, Sinner has “fallen into the evil cogs” of sports politics. Former Wimbledon finalist Nick Kyrgios, a provocateur not only on the court, posted gleefully on Instagram: “Hahaha, maybe not so innocent in the end, huh?” Both the ITIA and the Italian anti-doping authorities had the first verdict accepted, and Wada also sees no reason to have Sinner’s results achieved since March negotiated before the Cas. These include the Masters successes in Miami and Cincinnati, the victory at the grass tournament in Halle/Westphalia and the triumph at the US Open for his second Grand Slam title.
The responsibility for the positive samples still lies with the player and not with his physiotherapist, who lost his job in the Sinner team months after the tests. Eliminated because he had treated his hand himself with an over-the-counter steroid spray, thus causing his boss the predicament in the first place. At least that was Sinner’s account, which the court followed. Now the Cas judges decide Sinner’s fate. He can continue playing until the verdict is reached, and no matter what the outcome: his results remain. After that, he could disappear from the tennis world’s highlight videos for a while.
