Rennae Stubbs believes a potential ban for Jannik Sinner would be “a terrible look for tennis” as she slammed the appeal into the Italian’s case.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced last September that would appeal the initial International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruling in Sinner’s doping case.

Sinner was found to be of “no fault” after twice testing positive for clostebol in March 2024, with the ITIA accepting the Italian’s claim that he had accidentally been contaminated by a team member.

The world No 1 was docked his Indian Wells prize money and ranking points by the ITIA, though WADA’s appeal is looking to secure a more significant sanction for the Italian.

WADA have taken their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with their appeal set to be heard behind closed doors on April 16-17 in Lausanne.

Should CAS rule in WADA’s favour, Sinner could face a suspension between one to two years in length.

Since news of Sinner’s doping sanction was first confirmed by the ITIA in August 2024, the Italian has gone on to win two Grand Slam titles, at the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open.

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The Italian has also lifted the ATP Finals title and led Italy’s charge to a second successive Davis Cup title last November.

WADA announced their appeal less than three weeks after Sinner won the US Open, while the announcement of April’s hearing came just two days before the start of his successful Australian Open title defence.

Speaking on the Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast,  former doubles No 1 Stubbs slammed WADA’s timing – and revealed her worry about how “terrible” a potential suspension could be for tennis.

“This WADA situation is such a joke, I mean it’s such a joke,” said Stubbs.

“How can the ITIA say no fault for you, and then WADA decides months later: ‘You know what, that’s not quite satisfactory for us, we want him to pay for his team doing something stupid, but we are going to wait until April.’ Are you kidding me?

“He has played two Grand Slams, and won them. You think this is a good look WADA? You really think this is a good look?

“I guarantee you – look out – I think they are going to ban him. It’s going to be a terrible look for tennis.”

A potential suspension for Sinner could see the Italian ruled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, the two Grand Slam events he has yet to win.

However, speaking after his Australian Open triumph last weekend, the world No 1 revealed he was not thinking too much about the impending hearing.

He commented: “I mean, what happened, happened, no?

“As I always say, I keep playing like this because I have a clear mind on what happened. If I know if I would be guilty, I would not play like this, and that’s it.

“I mean, I still believe every time it came out in a very positive way, and I still believe it’s going to be that case. That’s it, no? At the moment I’m not thinking about this.”

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