World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner has accepted an immediate three-month doping ban following the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said they had reached a settlement on his period of ineligibility, reported Reuters, adding, this would make Sinner eligible to return before the French Open in May.
WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against an independent tribunal’s decision in August to clear Sinner of wrongdoing after the three-times major winner failed drug tests, added the report.
Earlier in February, Sinner successfully defended his Australian Open crown, but had tested positive for anabolic agent clostebol which he said had entered his system from a member of his support team through massages and sports therapy.
As per the report, his ban began on February 9 and will end on May 4. He can return to training on April 13.
The French Open main draw is scheduled to begin on May 25.
“WADA confirms that it has entered into a case resolution agreement in the case of Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, with the player accepting a three-month period of ineligibility for an anti-doping rule violation,” Reuters quoted WADA as saying in a statement on Saturday.
“WADA accepts that Mr Sinner did not intend to cheat and that his exposure to clostebol did not provide any performance-enhancing benefit and took place without his knowledge as the result of negligence of members of his entourage.
“However, under the Code and by virtue of CAS precedent, an athlete bears responsibility for the entourage’s negligence.”
The report further mentioned that the case against Sinner was set to be heard by CAS in April and Sinner was in danger of being banned for up to two years.
Appeal withdrawn:
Without seeking disqualification of his results, WADA has formally withdrawn its appeal to CAS after they reached a settlement.
“This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year,” Reuters quoted Sinner as saying in a statement.
“I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realise WADA’s strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love.
“On that basis I have accepted WADA’s offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a 3 month sanction.”
Sinner’s lawyer Jamie Singer said WADA had confirmed the facts determined by the independent tribunal.
“It is clear that Jannik had no intent, no knowledge, and gained no competitive advantage. Regrettably, errors made by members of his team led to this situation,” Singer said.
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