Former World No. 1 Predicts That Jannik Sinner Will Receive Doping Suspension
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Jannik Sinner and his fans may feel more nervous about his upcoming doping appeal after Serena Williams' former coach, Rennae Stubbs, predicted that he would receive a ban from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The appeal hearing, scheduled for April 16th and 17th, will finally end one of the most controversial stories in tennis history that has dominated headlines since the news became public.
Sinner tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol at the 2025 Indian Wells Open in March. After a five-month private investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), he was cleared of wrongdoing.
The ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation that his physiotherapist at the time used a spray that contained a negligible amount of the prohibited substance and then gave the ATP star massages, leading to the clostebol entering his system.
However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) disagreed. Although it did not dispute Sinner's explanation of how the contamination occurred, it appealed the case to CAS, arguing that he was partly to blame.
In an episode of her podcast, Stubbs strongly criticized WADA's decision to appeal the case. She believes Sinner's team was entirely to blame and does not believe the ATP world No. 1 deserves to be banned.
"This WADA situation is such a joke, I mean it’s such a joke. 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?"
Stubbs believes that WADA's appeal is a terrible look for tennis. However, the former doubles world No. 1 predicted that WADA would win the case and Sinner would receive a ban.
"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."
Opinions have differed sharply about whether Sinner will receive a suspension and whether he deserves one. One top sports lawyer, like Stubbs, predicted that WADA would win the case, and the Italian could potentially face a year-long ban.
More encouragingly, for Sinner, the chief of the US Anti-Doping Agency, Travis Tygart, does not consider him a doper and said the ITIA's conclusion of no fault or negligence was entirely appropriate.
Tygart also slammed WADA for its inconsistency compared to other cases. The words of Tygart, who was a key figure in Lance Armstrong being banned, should be taken seriously and might give Sinner some hope.
Regardless of the outcome, Sinner's focus, despite the stress caused by the case, has been incredible. He won a second Australian Open title and third Grand Slam overall to start his 2025 season.
Sinner becoming an even more dominant force feels inevitable if he avoids a doping ban. Whether that happens will be discovered after the CAS hearing in April.
