Paris, France

Jannik Sinner’s 2024 has taken yet another unexpected turn after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed for up to two years of ban for the Italian tennis star on Saturday (Sep 28). The Italian won the Australian Open and the US Open but was in the headlines for all the wrong reasons as he tested positive twice for traces of the banned substance clostebol in March. Despite the case, he avoided a ban from the ATP and would later win the US Open in September.

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WADA seeks ban for Sinner

"It is WADA's view that the finding of 'no fault or negligence' was not correct under the applicable rules," it said in a statement.

"WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years," it added.

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What is the incident?

In March, Sinner tested positive for the steroid clostebol, a banned substance used to build muscle. However, he clarified that one of his team members used the substances on his own hand before treating him, thereby passing the substance through hand-to-hand contact. The team members were later fired by Sinner which saw him get into trouble.

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While nothing is concrete on the ban issue, Sinner will aim to add one more feather to his already impressive cap with the ATP World Tour final on the horizon. With the finals taking place in November as the World No. 1 he is already in the pot for the final.

During his run to the Grand Slam wins in Australia and New York he beat the likes of Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. He beat Medvedev in the final of the Australian Open final and the quarterfinal of the US Open. Djokovic on the other hand was defeated in the semifinal of the Australian Open and became only the eighth tennis player to beat the Serbian star in the inaugural Grand Slam of the year.