Jannik Sinner must be seen as Public Enemy No. 1 by World Anti-Doping Agency

Tennis has basically set itself up for this kind of issue. The sport has a history of waiting to release any kind of information of players failing drug tests and that could make some feel as tennis is trying to cover something up. That may not be the case, but perception does matter.

In the case of ATP No. 1 Jannik Sinner, tennis fans did not know he had failed two drug tests in March at Indian Wells until months afterward. During that time, Sinner had appealed any potential long-term suspension, had the appeal reviewed quite quickly - unusually quick, some might think - by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), and then Sinner was found to be innocent of any intentional wrongdoing.

The problem seen by players such as Nick Kyrgios was that a long suspension was not handed down, and Sinner had to sit out any action while his appeal was being reviewed. Other players with the same issue, such as Simona Halep, did not have the same experience. Halep was banned for four years until her appeal was finally reviewed, and her suspension was reduced to nine months.

The World Anti-Doping Agency wants Jannik Sinner to be suspended

For Sinner, he appeared through any issues relating to the failed drug tests. He was not going to be suspended, and his only punishment was giving up the money and points he had earned at Indian Wells. Not so fast, says the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).

The WADA took it upon itself to file an appeal of the ITIA's decision with the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS). This was done on September 26, and there is no timeline for when the CAS will rule on the appeal or even hear the appeal. This could take months.

As part of the press release on the appeal, the WADA said, "It is WADA’s view that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was not correct under the applicable rules. WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance."

Ouch. This clearly implies the WADA thinks there was something off about how quickly the ITIA ruled in Sinner's favor and that they ruled in the player's favor at all. Sinner might not yet be out of the proverbial weeds with his failed drug tests. Ultimately, though, tennis fans are the ones who have to suffer with such a such a shadow of impropriety hanging over the sport.

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