World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been cleared of all doping charges. However, WADA still has three weeks to appeal the decision — despite contradicting reports.
On Tuesday, Corriere della Sera initially reported that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) would not appeal the decision of an independent tribunal that ruled Sinner “bore no fault or negligence” for failing two drug tests earlier this year. It was reported in August that Sinner tested twice in March for the steroid clostebol but argued the tests were the result of contamination from his physiotherapist.
The report claimed WADA had the right to appeal the decision but reportedly allowed the window to appeal to pass.
However, the Associated Press’ Graham Dunbar and Andrew Dampf provided an update straight from WADA:
“The World Anti-Doping Agency has yet to decide whether to appeal the decision to exonerate U.S. Open champion Jannik Sinner of blame for his positive steroid tests, and has another three weeks to do so. … An appeal could jeopardize his U.S. Open title but Sinner and his legal team have provided detailed evidence that persuaded the ITIA and the tribunal judges that his explanation was credible.”
Sinner would likely prefer to switch all his focus to tennis rather than worry about the looming threat of a suspension. During his stellar two-week run at Flushing Meadows, which culminated with his first U.S. Open title, he spoke extensively about the doping cloud hanging over him and several of his peers doubting his innocence.
“In my mind, I know I haven’t done anything wrong,” Sinner told reporters before the U.S. Open, via ESPN. “I had to play already months with this [doping allegations] in my head, but, you know, just remembering myself that I haven’t done really anything wrong. I always respect these rules, and I always will respect these rules of anti-doping.”
After hoisting the U.S. Open trophy on Sunday, Sinner held back tears when he admitted that the win “means so much” because he and his team had to endure a “lot of difficulties” in the lead-up to the slam.
Sinner (55-5 in 2024) has already won six titles in 2024: the Australian Open, Miami, Rotterdam, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open. The Italian is now eyeing his seventh title at the upcoming ATP 500 China Open in Beijing. Thereafter, he is scheduled to play at the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters in Shanghai.
