Tennis world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has sparked controversy after being spotted training in Doha on February 13, just days after the start of his recently announced doping suspension.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed Saturday that Sinner had accepted a three-month ban running from February 9 to May 4 as part of a case resolution agreement. According to the terms, the Italian is prohibited from “official training activity” until April 13.
“If he was banned on Feb 9, how is he training on Feb 13?” questioned one fan on social media after footage emerged of Sinner practicing on courts in Doha, where he had travelled to compete in the Qatar Open before withdrawing following the suspension announcement.
The suspension stems from two positive tests for clostebol last year at Indian Wells. While the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) initially ruled Sinner “bore no fault or negligence” after he successfully argued the substance entered his system through his then-physio, WADA intended to appeal based on Sinner’s “degree of responsibility” for “the entourage’s negligence.”
The case resolution agreement averted a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing scheduled for April but has raised questions among players and fans about consistency in doping enforcement. Sinner was previously docked prize money and ranking points from Indian Wells but was allowed to continue competing, including winning this year’s Australian Open.
WADA and tournament officials have not yet commented on whether Sinner’s February 13 practice session constitutes a violation of his suspension terms.
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