The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) of Lausanne has published the calendar of hearings scheduled until February 11th. The one concerning Jannik Sinner – and the Clostebol case – has not yet been fixed. The CAS will have to judge Sinner, acquitted in the first instance by an independent tribunal appointed by ITIA after the positive test for Clostebol due to “total absence of malice or negligence”, as confirmed in August by the International Tennis Integrity Unit itself, the agency responsible for responsible for compliance with the anti-doping program in the world of tennis.
However, WADA appealed against this decision, although it did not dispute Sinner’s version of events (the contamination due to the use by the then physiotherapist Naldi of Trofodermin, an ointment containing Clostebol). WADA does not even try to prove that Sinner cheated but that he is liable due to negligence.
The CAS proceedings will not enter into the merits of the first instance judgement. In fact, a new process will begin in Lausanne, from scratch. And it will begin after briefs are submitted by WADA and Sinner’s legal team. Only at that point will the judging panel be formed, as per the regulation composed of three members: one chosen by the prosecution, one by the defense and the third, with the function of president, appointed by the other two or by the CAS if the two do not reach a agreement.