Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
World number one Jannik Sinner is set to face the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in a doping case hearing scheduled for April 16-17. The hearing will address the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) appeal, which seeks to impose a one-to-two-year ban on the Italian tennis star.
Sinner, 23, tested positive for low levels of the anabolic steroid Clostebol in two separate tests conducted in March last year. In August, an independent tribunal cleared him after accepting his explanation of unintentional contamination. Sinner claimed the banned substance entered his system through a massage from a trainer who had used Clostebol to treat a finger injury. The tribunal ruled that the contamination was accidental, sparing him from suspension.
advertisement
Despite this, WADA filed an appeal with CAS in September, challenging the tribunal’s decision. If the appeal is successful, Sinner could face a ban of up to two years. “No parties requested a public hearing, and it will be conducted behind closed doors,” CAS said in a statement about the two-day hearing.
The CAS hearing will take place behind closed doors at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland. Neither party requested a public hearing. While CAS has not provided a specific timeline for its decision, a fast-track verdict may be requested to ensure the ruling is made before the French Open begins on May 25.
The doping case has cast a shadow over Sinner’s remarkable 2023 season, during which he won the U.S. Open. News of his positive test, initially kept confidential, was revealed after he successfully appealed against a provisional ban.
As Sinner prepares to defend his Australian Open title in Melbourne, he has faced scepticism from fellow players. Notably, Novak Djokovic has questioned whether Sinner received preferential treatment from tennis authorities.
In a statement on Friday, Sinner expressed frustration over the uncertainty surrounding the case, saying he remains focused on his preparation for the Australian Open but is eager for clarity.
WADA maintains that the presence of Clostebol in Sinner’s system constitutes a doping violation, regardless of the explanation. The agency is pushing for a suspension of at least one year to uphold the integrity of anti-doping efforts.
The outcome of the CAS hearing will be pivotal not only for Sinner’s career but also for broader perceptions of fairness and consistency in tennis. If banned, Sinner risks missing key tournaments, including the French Open and Wimbledon. Conversely, a verdict in his favor would vindicate his claims of accidental contamination and allow him to continue his rise in the sport.
The tennis world now awaits the decision from CAS, which will have far-reaching implications for Sinner and the sport as a whole.
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
