Jannik Sinner, the current ATP No.1, is facing one of the most challenging moments of his career as the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) prepares to rule on his Clostebol doping case in a closed-door hearing scheduled for mid-April. While the 22-year-old Italian is currently focused on his campaign at the 2025 Australian Open, where he has reached the third round, the looming verdict from CAS remains an unavoidable concern for him and his team.
The controversy stems from Sinner’s positive test for Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid, during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. He failed two doping tests but was later cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal commissioned by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) was dissatisfied with this ruling and lodged an appeal with CAS, seeking a suspension of one to two years for the young star.
Despite the serious nature of the case, Sinner has received significant support from key figures in the anti-doping community. Travis Tygart, Chief Executive of the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), who is known for his role in prosecuting Lance Armstrong, has publicly stated that he does not believe Sinner is a doper.
“If Jannik is a doper, which I don’t believe he is based on the facts that have been made public, then a not guilty verdict was a perfectly appropriate outcome based on the rules and the facts,” Tygart explained in an interview with Daily Maverick.
Sinner’s coach, Darren Cahill, who has announced that he will leave the Italian’s team at the end of the season, also reaffirmed his belief in Sinner’s innocence. Just hours after Sinner advanced to the third round of the Australian Open, Cahill reposted Tygart’s interview on X (formerly Twitter), signaling his support for his player and clarifying that their upcoming split has no connection to the doping controversy.
Tygart has also dismissed allegations that Sinner received preferential treatment in the initial ruling by the ITIA-appointed tribunal. He compared the case to doping violations in China, arguing that the process followed in Sinner’s case was fair and transparent.
“Unlike TMZ 23 in China, the rules were followed. The transparency was upheld. Why wasn’t Sinner provisionally suspended? Well, he was. But he appealed and they revoked it. That’s within the regulations,” Tygart stated.
As the CAS hearing approaches, the outcome remains uncertain. If the ruling favors WADA, Sinner could face a suspension that would derail his career just as he reaches his peak. However, if CAS upholds the original verdict, Sinner will be able to continue competing without restrictions.
For now, Sinner remains focused on his Australian Open campaign, but the upcoming CAS ruling will undoubtedly be a decisive moment in his career
