The Jannik Sinner drug scandal will put tennis on trial as the world No.1 faces an uncertain future

Tennis has been shaken to its core after it was confirmed that Jannik Sinner could face a ban following his failed drug test. The World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed it will push for a long-term ban for the world number one

Sinner said he was “very disappointed and also surprised” to be faced with the renewed threat of a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed a verdict of “no fault or negligence” over two positive tests he took had returned in March.

Sinner, who won the US Open earlier this month, tested positive twice for the anabolic steroid Clostebol in March, but on August 20 an independent court found he was not at fault and imposed no punishment.

The court accepted Sinner's explanation that the banned substance entered his body through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had treated a cut on his finger with a spray containing the steroid.

But WADA has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and is seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the 23-year-old Italian. The appeal was filed on Thursday but was announced on Saturday morning.

After beating Roman Safiullin 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open, Sinner said: “To be honest, I'm very disappointed and also surprised by the appeal.” I had it not expected. Maybe they just want to make sure everything is in the right position.”

A WADA statement said: “In WADA’s view, the finding of no fault or negligence was incorrect under the applicable rules.

“WADA is aiming for a ban of between one and two years. WADA does not seek to annul any results except those already imposed by the trial court.”

A statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency said: “The ITIA recognizes the decision of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to appeal against the decision of an independent tribunal appointed by the organization in the case of the Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner is not at fault or negligent, sports decisions of August 19, 2024.

“Under the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code, WADA has the final right to appeal any such decisions.

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“Once we reached agreement on the facts following a thorough investigative process, the case was referred to a tribunal completely independent of the ITIA to determine the extent of the culpability and therefore the sanction given the unique circumstances and the absence of a comparable precedent .

“The trial was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the World Anti-Doping Code. However, the ITIA recognizes and respects WADA’s right to appeal the decision of the independent arbitral tribunal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.”

The ITIA has come under intense scrutiny following its decision to clear Sinner of wrongdoing following his positive drug test, and its processes will now be in the spotlight again following news that WADA has intervened.

There could also be questions about whether Sinner will be allowed to continue playing while his case is heard, with Coco Gauff's former coach Brad Gilbert among others expressing his reaction to the news.

Gilbert admitted he was taken aback by the twist in this story, suspecting that the small amount of the drug found in Sinner's system suggested he was not guilty.

“I am completely confused by this Wada decision. It (Clostebol) was 8,000 times smaller than a gram of salt,” Gilbert said on X.

“It will unfortunately now take months to find out where the player’s representation is in this matter, other than Sinner paying his own lawyers.”

Sinner's nightmare has now returned to haunt him and this looks certain to be the biggest tennis story of 2025 as the world No. 1 faces a long battle to clear her name once again.

Read more: The 5 players who won the first Grand Slam title after reaching world No. 1 – with Ivan Lendl and Kim Clijsters