World tennis number one Jannik Sinner among 67 athletes who reached suspension agreement

Jannik Sinner hits a backhand during a match at the Australian Open in January 2025. Photo by ATP

According to BBC, WADA began negotiations on suspensions with athletes in 2021, and so far, 67 have accepted the agency's proposals. These cases meet WADA's criteria for dosage and method of exposure. In Sinner's case, the dose was one part per million, which has no effect on the body, and the method of exposure was unintentional.

"I'm not sure that a sanction of 12 months in this case if we'd have forced the tribunal into that position, or a case of 'no fault' would have been a good outcome," WADA adviser Ross Wenzel commented.

Previously, Wenzel emphasized that Sinner's situation was "a million miles away from doping" compared to the use of banned substances in sports.

On Feb. 26, BBC reported that WADA representatives approached Jamie Singer, Sinner's lawyer, in January 2025 to approve a deal. However, the Italian tennis player initially rejected the offer, as he had already been cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) after three hearings in 2024.

Sinner was prepared to attend a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), where the final decision would be made. This hearing was scheduled for April 16 and 17.

After Sinner's victory at the Australian Open, WADA continued negotiations with his team in early February. The two sides eventually reached an agreement on a three-month suspension. Singer advised his client that this was the best option, as pushing the case to CAS could be too risky.

Shortly after the agreement, WADA withdrew Sinner’s case from CAS. The world number one was banned from Feb. 9 to May 4, just in time for the Rome Masters and Roland Garros, the second Grand Slam of the year.

WADA's proactive approach to negotiating a penalty with Sinner is not unique. The agency explained that it wanted Sinner to be held accountable for what was in his system and for the mistakes of his team.

However, WADA's ban on Sinner has been controversial, with several prominent tennis figures, including Novak Djokovic, criticizing the ITIA and WADA's handling of the case, suggesting inconsistencies and favoritism among top players.

Others have argued that Sinner was innocent and should not be punished for mistakes made by others or for a banned substance that had no impact on his performance.