Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner won the second consecutive Australian Open title and made history became the first Italian player to win three Grand Slam titles, defeating Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in the final on Sunday.
However, his victory won’t last long because of his upcoming doping case hearing which is set for April 16-17, also it could lead to a ban of up to two years if the decision goes against him. Sinner also refused not to comment on the case.
During a press conference after his Australian Open win, Sinner acknowledged the upcoming hearing but expressed a desire to focus on celebrating his victory. “Right now, I want to enjoy this moment. The hearing date is set, but I’m not thinking about it for now.”
What is Jannik Sinner’s doping case?
The case stems from a positive test for clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, detected twice in March 2024. According to the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA),
Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” as the substance was traced back to contamination from a healing spray used by his physiotherapist, Umberto Ferrara, to treat a cut on Sinner’s hand. The spray inadvertently transferred during subsequent massages.
Although Sinner parted ways with Ferrara and another team member, Giacomo Naldi, before the 2024 U.S. Open (which he went on to win), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed the ITIA’s ruling. WADA seeks a ban of one to two years through the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
