The World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA) announced that it had filed an appeal in the case of the Italian tennis player Jannik Sinnernumber one in the ATP, acquitted after two positive controls, and asks for a sanction “of one to two years” that could cause an earthquake in the world tennis.
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Despite having been acquitted by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after testing positive twice for clostebol, a banned substance, in March, Sinnerwho this Saturday qualified for the third round of the Beijing tournament by beating the Russian Roman Safiullin (3-6, 6-2 and 6-3), is once again threatened by a case that could cause an earthquake on the circuit male.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed and also surprised,” Sinner told the press after qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Beijing tournament, admitting to having heard about WADA’s appeal “a couple of days ago.”
“Maybe they just want to make sure everything was done the right way, but yeah, I’m surprised they resorted”, he insisted.
He later published a statement: “It is difficult to understand what having three different judges examining the same facts and the same documents again will contribute.”
“But I have nothing to hide and as I already did, I will fully cooperate with the appeal process and provide everything necessary to once again prove my innocence,” he added.
The decision to sanction or not the current Australian Open and US Open champion and current world number 1 remains in the hands of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The 23-year-old Italian embodies, along with the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, the relay on the ATP circuit. This season, both players have shared the four Grand Slam tournaments.
“ONE TO TWO YEARS OF SUSPENSION” FOR JANNIK SINNER
In the first instance, an independent court concluded that the young tennis player had not committed “any fault or negligence,” a decision that “is not correct with respect to the applicable rules,” WADA said.
Consequently, the Montreal-based body “requests a suspension period of one to two years” for the Italian tennis player, without his results from the positive controls, including the US Open title, being annulled.
A Jannik Sinner His ATP points and prizes obtained at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 were withdrawn, the tournament in which he was tested positive for the first time (on March 10) and in which he reached the semifinals.
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Shortly after, on March 18, just before the Miami Masters 1000, Sinner He was again tested positive for the same substance, clostebol, of which trace amounts were found in his body.
On both occasions, the Italian filed an appeal, which allowed him to reduce his automatic suspensions, from April 4 to 5 for the first and from April 17 to 20 in the second.
The two positives of Jannik Sinner They were not made public until the end of August, when the ITIA acquitted the Italian at the end of an investigation.
Sinner alleged that the small amounts of clostebol, a testosterone-derived anabolic, detected came from his physical therapist, who used an over-the-counter spray to treat a cut finger and contaminated the tennis player while massaging him.
Just before the US Open, Jannik Sinner He separated from his physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, supposedly responsible for the contamination, and from his physical trainer, Umberto Ferrara, who had supplied Naldi with the contaminating spray.
Several players have since denounced possible favorable treatment towards Sinnerwho was able to continue competing during the process.
“Ridiculous, whether accidental or not. You test positive twice for a banned substance (a steroid)… You should be suspended for two years. Your performance has improved,” denounced on the social network
Clostebol is not produced naturally by the body, so the simple detection of that substance is considered a positive for doping.
The WADA classifies it among “anabolic androgenic steroids”, that is, a long list of testosterone derivatives capable of stimulating muscle growth, without however explaining how much would have a significant effect on an athlete’s performance.
ald
2024-09-29 06:20:17