In a surprising turn of events, World No. 1 tennis player Jannik Sinner finds himself at the center of a renewed doping controversy. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has decided to appeal the decision that cleared Sinner of any wrongdoing after he tested positive for a banned substance earlier this year.

The initial ruling, made by an independent tribunal, concluded that Sinner was not at fault. The tribunal accepted the explanation that the banned substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat their own cut finger. This decision allowed Sinner to continue competing, much to the relief of his fans and the tennis community.

However, WADA’s recent appeal has cast a shadow over Sinner’s career. The agency is seeking a ban of one to two years, arguing that the initial ruling was not in line with the applicable rules. This development has left Sinner both surprised and disappointed. “Obviously, I’m very disappointed and also surprised by this appeal,” Sinner said. “We had three hearings, and all three came out very positively for me. I was not expecting this.”

The appeal process will now move to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where Sinner’s fate will be determined. The timing of this appeal is particularly challenging for Sinner, who is currently competing in the China Open. Despite the off-court distractions, he managed to secure a victory against Roman Safiullin, showcasing his resilience and focus.

As the tennis world watches closely, the outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for Sinner’s career and the broader conversation around doping in sports. For now, Sinner remains committed to proving his innocence and continuing his journey as one of the top players in the world.

Sinner in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2024

Now the world no.1, the Italian owns an overall 57-5 win-loss record in 2024. Jannik is now having a run in Beijing where he overcame the world no.28 Nicolas Jarry 4-6 6-3 6-1 and the world no.69 Roman Safiullin 3-6 6-2 6-3.

Jannik Sinner will compete against the world no.37 Jiri Lehecka in the quarter. The head to head is 2-2.

The Italian has won 6 titles in 2024 at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, Cincinnati and U.S. Open.

The Italian won 17 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 1 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts and 1 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Shanghai (Shanghai Rolex Masters) on the 2nd of October and Paris (Rolex Paris Masters) on the 28th of October.