Former Italian player predicts worst outcome for Jannik Sinner

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is currently awaiting the results of an investigation by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over his two failed drug tests for a banned anabolic steroid earlier this year.

While Sinner was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rejected the verdict and instead called for the Italian to be banned "between one and two years." The CAS reportedly received WADA's appeal on Oct. 4 and began arbitration proceedings. 

As Sinner awaits the verdict, former World No. 49 Daniele Bracciali has predicted the worst outcome for his fellow countryman. 

"How will the Sinner case end? Unfortunately, knowing the environment of WADA and ITIA, I believe that a disqualification will almost certainly arrive," Bracciali told Mowmag.com. "It is not right to disqualify a tennis player if it is found that he has not taken drugs to improve performance and in the case of the Italian, it really has not changed anything. Objective responsibility in this situation is a real scam."

While further defending Sinner's honor, Bracciali said a ban would result from a "dirty trick" pulled by WADA after the ITIA and the Italian anti-doping authority cleared him after months of investigations culminating in three judges analyzing his case via a formal hearing.

That's why when WADA called for him to be banned, Sinner expressed shock and questioned "what will be gained" by WADA, asking a different set of judges to "look at the same facts and documentation" when he was already cleared. 

Bracciali added that a ban would leave an "indelible stain" on Sinner's career even if his peers don't doubt his innocence. 

Some have floated conspiracy theories that Sinner withdrew from the ongoing Paris Masters due to the doping scandal and the possible mental toll it's taking on him. To make matters worse, Cedric Pioline, the tournament director of the Paris Masters, implied that Sinner might have been inclined to withdraw after taking home the heftiest paycheck in tennis history for winning an event in Saudi Arabia. 

Once the CAS's panel announces its verdict, which will be final and binding, both Sinner and WADA will have the right to appeal to the Swiss Federal Tribunal within 30 days.