Sun Sep 29 06:59:04 UTC 2024: ## Tennis Star Sinner Faces Potential Ban Despite Cleared Drug Test

**BEIJING** – Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner is facing a potential one-to-two-year ban despite being cleared of wrongdoing in a previous drug test. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed the decision that cleared Sinner, who tested positive for an anabolic steroid in March, and is now seeking a suspension.

Sinner, who won the US Open this year, expressed disappointment and surprise at the appeal, stating that he had already been cleared in three previous hearings. He maintains his innocence, claiming that the banned substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist. The physiotherapist used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own cut finger, unknowingly exposing Sinner to the banned substance.

WADA argues that the initial decision to clear Sinner was incorrect based on the applicable rules. They are not seeking to disqualify Sinner’s results, except for those from the Indian Wells tournament, where he was originally stripped of prize money and ranking points.

Sinner has been allowed to continue playing while the appeal is pending, which means his Australian Open title defense in January could be affected.

The case is now before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will determine whether Sinner will face a suspension. The CAS ruling could come within a few months if the parties agree to cooperate, as was the case with Maria Sharapova’s doping case in 2016.

The Italian tennis and padel federation president, Angelo Binaghi, remains confident in Sinner’s innocence and believes the appeal will ultimately reaffirm his exoneration.

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