Jannik Sinner’s One-year Suspension From Tennis Send Shockwaves Through The Sport

Tennis is only just waking up to the reality of what may be about to hit the sport.

When Jannik Sinner posted a positive doping test for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024, the wheels were set in motion on a story that appeared to have a conclusive ending.

His case was heard by tennis chiefs and a verdict was reached that appeared to exonerate the Italian of blame.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) concluded Sinner was not responsible for the banned substance entering his system after a member of his team transferred it to him during a massage and no suspension was imposed.

That seemed to be the end of this story, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against that judgement and their case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April.

As revealed exclusively by Tennis365 in December, the MINIMUM ban Sinner faces if the appeal goes against him is a one-year suspension from tennis and it may be up to two years.

Such a lengthy punishment would send shockwaves through the sport, with leading voices in tennis reacting with shock when we informed them that a one-year suspension for Sinner was the likely outcome.

Sky Sports Tennis lead presenter Gigi Salmon was among those thinking Sinner would get a “two or three-month ban”, and she was surprised when we informed her that such a brief period of exile was not on the agenda.

“I can’t imagine he will be banned for a year,” was Salmon’s as she was informed by Tennis365 of what could happen, but there is a reason why this period of suspension is not negotiable.

There is a sliding scale of potential bans if an athlete posts a positive doping test and if the cause of the issue is a substance that has not been contaminated, the minimum suspension is one year.

As the cream used by Sinner’s now former team member Giacomo Naldi and then transferred to the world No 1 was known to contain clostebol, a one-year ban would be the best outcome Sinner can hope for.

ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse spoke exclusively to Tennis365 about the Sinner case, as she explained why a minimum one-year suspension will be handed out to Sinner if the CAS case goes against him.

“If you test positive for a banned substance, your starting point for a possible sanction is four years,” Moorhouse told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.

“If you can demonstrate that it was not intentional, that reduces to two years. Then, if you can prove there was no fault, there is no sanction.

“In addition, a decision of ‘no significant fault or negligence’ could fall between a reprimand and two years. That applies to any cases around a contaminated substance.

“The complication with the Sinner case is the positive test was not a result of a contaminated product. That is the difference between Swiatek and Halep. There is no contamination here.

“The product that the masseuse used on his finger was not contaminated. It contained exactly what it said the product ingredients and because it is not a contaminated product, the range for a sanction is a one-year to two-year suspension.

“The first tribunal found that Sinner had ‘no fault or negligence’, that he had used the utmost caution. Therefore, he faced no sanction.

“My understanding from WADA’s statements is they are challenging that because they believe there was an element of fault and that the outcome should have been ‘no significant fault or negligence’.”

WADA has now confirmed their position in the Sinner case, with spokesperson James Fitzgerald making their position clear.

“As we stated in September, WADA believes that the conclusion of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct according to the current rules, and is asking for a suspension period of between one and two years,” Fitzgerald told La Sampa.

“WADA is not asking for the cancellation of any results other than those already imposed in the first instance. As the matter is now pending before the CAS, WADA will not comment further.”

A one-year ban for Sinner would be a huge embarrassment for tennis, with the image of the world No 1 being kicked out of the sport for such a lengthy period for a failed drug test certain to leave a lasting scar.

Sinner’s reputation would also take a massive hit and he would return to the sport in April 2026 with no ranking points and needing to start his career all over again.

The Italian has hired some powerful lawyers who will be confident of convincing the Court of Arbitration for Sport that Sinner was not at fault for the failed doping test.

Yet WADA would not have taken their case this far if they were not confident of winning and Sinner would be banned from playing while he appealed any suspension.

Big tournaments may be on the tennis horizon in Indian Wells and Miami, but the reality must be that the most significant result of this season will come in a court hearing set for April 16-17, with the reputation of Sinner and tennis very much on the line.