Jannik Sinner is awaiting the outcome of a WADA appeal against his punishment for a failed drug test and a prominent tennis journalist has floated the idea that he may be banned from Grand Slam tournaments in 2025.

World No 1 Sinner tested positive for a banned substance twice in March but was absolved of fault or negligence by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA).

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s that the anabolic agent clostebol had accidentally entered his system via a product one of his team had used to treat a small wound.

The decision has been met with criticism in the tennis world, with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirming they intended to appeal against the suspension and have taken their case to Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

It is WADA’s view that the finding of “no fault or negligence” was not correct under the applicable rules and they are 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.

There have been suggestions that the case was going to be heard before the end of 2024 and a suspension could impact his Australian Open title defence at the start of the new tennis season, but CAS has published its list of hearings until February 11 next year and WADA’s appeal case against Sinner’s punishment is not among them.

It means he will be able to compete at Melbourne Park and also the Rotterdam Open – where he is also the defending champion – with his hearing likely to be heard in late February or the beginning of March.

Prior to the confirmation that Sinner will be free to compete at the Australian Open tennis journalist Jon Wertheim floated the prospect of Sinner being banned from Grand Slam tournaments in 2025, as he suggested the door could open for Novak Djokovic to challenge for his 25th Grand Slam title if the defending champion is blocked from playing.

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“The defending champion and the player that beat him last year may not be in the draw as he is pending a doping appeal,” Wertheim told the Served with Andy Roddick podcast.

“If Jannik Sinner is not in the draw, would you bet against the guy who has won this thing ten times previously?”

The prospect of Sinner being banned for part or all of 2025 will be giving the Italian sleepless nights during the off-season and he admitted after his stunning performances helped Italy retain the Davis Cup title that the WADA appeal is playing on his mind.

“Of course, it’s in the head a little bit,” said Sinner. “I always say, you know, we had three hearings, three hearings which came out in a positive way. So hopefully also the next one, it’s out.

“But for me, the most important part is that all the people who are around me and know me as a human being trust me, no? That’s also the reason I kept playing the level I had.

“Of course, I had some ups and downs, and whoever know me I was emotionally a bit down and a bit also heartbroken, no, but sometimes life gives you difficulties and you just have to stand for it.

“This is also, you know, with I think from outside it’s always very, very difficult to say if someone has a problem or not, because we always try to compete in the best possible way we are, but I’m not concerned. I will work with them as I did the three previous times, and then we see what’s coming out, no? Whatever I can control, I can control. And then we see.

“Now, for sure, it’s a bit of time off, which is gonna be good for all of us. You know, it was a very long season.

“We were just joking around that not even in one month we restart again if you want to play tournaments straightaway. So you have to also enjoy a little bit of the time off, if you can, surround yourself with good people, and that’s it.”

The news that Iga Swiatek also failed a drug test last summer has pushed the issue of doping in tennis to the top of the sporting agenda once again, with Sinner’s verdict likely to dominate the tennis news agenda when the CAS verdict is finally announced.

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