In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald, Australian lawyer Tim Fuller, who previously represented swimmer Shayna Jack in a doping scandal, shared insights into the potential consequences of Jannik Sinner’s positive test for Clostebol. While the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to deliver its verdict after mid-February 2025, opinions from various professionals are beginning to surface.
Fuller expressed his belief that the initial ruling regarding non-negligence will likely be overturned, resulting in a sanction for Sinner. He described the case as “very unusual,” noting that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) acknowledges the substance was not taken intentionally, yet asserts that some level of fault or negligence exists, placing ultimate responsibility on the athlete. “What will need to be examined is the degree of fault or negligence, which could lead to a suspension of one to two years. A suspension of up to one year would indicate a low degree of negligence,” Fuller explained.
Additionally, Alessia Di Gianfrancesco, director of the Italian anti-doping agency, weighed in on the issue during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport. She pointed out that while certain threshold values for specific substances already exist, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive assessment across different countries to achieve consistency in anti-doping measures.
“WADA has the expertise to intervene, but certain evaluations must also consider the products available. WADA was established to harmonize these processes, and while many procedures have been standardized, the judgment aspect remains inconsistent,” Di Gianfrancesco stated.
She emphasized the need for a unified approach, arguing that without uniformity, anti-doping organizations will struggle to protect athletes and uphold the integrity of clean sport. “If Italy adopts one standard and other countries another, it leads to inconsistent judgments based on varying interpretations of guilt. Only WADA can and must resolve this situation,” she concluded.
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