The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has stated that Jannik Sinner’s case is “a million miles away from doping.” Speaking to BBC Sport, WADA General Counsel Ross Wenzel defended the decision to impose a three-month ban on the world number one tennis player.
Sinner, 23, tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024. However, an independent panel cleared him of intentional wrongdoing, ruling that the contamination resulted from treatment for a cut on his hand with an over-the-counter spray.
Despite this, WADA appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s (ITIA) initial decision not to suspend Sinner. The agency initially sought a ban of up to two years but ultimately accepted a three-month suspension, acknowledging that Sinner “did not intend to cheat.”
The ban began on 9 February and will end on 4 May. This allows Sinner to compete in the French Open on 25 May. Some figures in the tennis world, including 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, have criticised the decision, claiming high-profile players receive preferential treatment.
Wenzel rejected these accusations, asserting that the ruling followed standard procedures. “This was a case that was a million miles away from doping,” he told BBC Sport. “Scientific feedback confirmed that this could not be a case of intentional doping, including micro-dosing.”
He also dismissed suggestions that the ban was timed to minimise its impact on Sinner’s career. “The sanctions we impose are blind to the calendar. The correct sanction is applied when it is determined, without consideration of upcoming tournaments,” Wenzel stated.
WADA introduced case resolution agreements in 2021, allowing negotiated settlements in doping cases. According to Wenzel, 67 such agreements have been reached since the rule change.
Since the initial doping claim, Sinner has gone on to win several high-profile tournaments, including retaining his Australian Open title.
