Tennis chiefs issue new statement following Jannik Sinner drug test scandal

After being cleared by tennis officials and permitted to resume his career, Jannik Sinner assumed his ordeal with the drug test was over. After the World Anti-Doping Agency filed an appeal against a decision that found him to have "no fault or negligence" for two positive tests he returned in March, World No. 1 Sinner is once again in danger of being banned.

After testing positive for an anabolic steroid twice in March, Sinner, the winner of the US Open earlier this month, was found not guilty by an independent panel on August 20 and was not punished. Sinner explained before the tribunal that the prohibited chemical got into his body during a massage after his physiotherapist used a steroid-containing spray to treat a laceration on his finger.

But WADA has filed an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, hoping to ban the 23-year-old Italian for up to two years. A statement from the agency said: “It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules. "WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any result, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance."

Since the confirmation of Sinner's failed tests, the International Tennis Integrity Agency's handling of the case has been the focus of intense discussion. Many current and former players have suggested that the Australian and US Open champion received preferential treatment because of his standing in the men's game. 

ITIA has released a new statement.

In response to the numerous inquiries concerning their handling of the Jannik Sinner case and the WADA appeal, the ITIA has released a new statement. Sinner instance, the appeal is centered on the independent tribunal's interpretation and application of the rules in assessing the player's level of blame, if any, rather than the ITIA's examination of the facts and science. 

We encourage discussions on this topic with players, their agents, and the media, but we also recognize that it is our duty to collaborate with members of the tennis community to guarantee that there is confidence in the process.