Jannik Sinner’s Future in Doubt as Former Italian Player Predicts Likely Doping Ban

Disgraced former Italian tennis player Daniele Bracciali has claimed that Jannik Sinner, the current World No. 1, is “almost certain” to face a doping ban. Sinner initially tested positive twice for the banned steroid clostebol in March, but the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled him to have “no fault or negligence,” resulting in no suspension. While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted the ITIA’s “no fault” finding, it has since challenged the leniency of the punishment.

The case has sparked significant debate within the tennis community and beyond, with Bracciali, a former World No. 49 who was banned for life due to match-fixing in 2018, recently weighing in. Speaking to Mowmag, Bracciali voiced support for Sinner yet expressed his belief that a ban is inevitable.

“How will the Sinner case end? Unfortunately, knowing how WADA and the ITIA operate, I believe a disqualification will almost certainly come,” Bracciali said. “It’s unfair to disqualify a player who hasn’t taken performance-enhancing drugs. In Sinner’s case, nothing was gained. This kind of ‘objective responsibility’ is a scam.”

He went on to discuss the toll such a decision could take on Sinner’s mental state: “He’s incredibly strong, but a sentence like this would undoubtedly weigh on him. People often forget he’s human.”

In September, WADA confirmed its appeal against the initial ruling in the 23-year-old’s case. Bracciali expressed sympathy for Sinner, noting, “Knowing he has done nothing wrong, yet facing a possible disqualification, is incredibly hard.”

Bracciali also highlighted Sinner’s support within Italy, calling a ban a “dirty trick.” He remarked, “Most Italians know who Sinner is, even if some detractors remain. The right outcome would be acquittal. If he were disqualified, it would leave an indelible stain, even if everyone knows he acted in good faith.”

Reflecting on the potential impact on Sinner’s career, Bracciali noted that while Sinner’s current points lead would allow him to retain a strong ranking despite a short absence, a ban would mark his career permanently: “Disqualifying him would be a dirty trick, just like others have faced.”