“The review of the case by WADA is ongoing. No decision has yet been made on the matter. WADA received the case file last week. Regarding the deadlines for a possible appeal, Articles 13.2.3.5 of the World Anti-Doping Code are explicit”. The words of the Irishman James Fitzgerald, head of external relations of the World Anti-Doping Agency based in Montreal on the matter of Jannik Sinner ‘s double positivity to Clostebol, are concise, but explanatory. And, addressed to the Gazzetta in the Italian afternoon yesterday, they make a clear point of the situation.
THE DATES
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It is assumed that the Itia, the independent agency for the integrity of tennis to which the world federation belongs, with hearing no. SR/250/2024 signed by the judges of a panel composed of David Sharpe, Tamara Gaw and Benoit Girardin, exonerated the South Tyrolean “for not having faults or negligence”. It is in relation to this decision that Wada could appeal to the CAS in Lausanne. Within what time frame? Articles 13.2.3.5. state that Wada can appeal no later than: a) 21 days after the last day available for any other party involved to present it; b) 21 days after Wada itself has received the complete file relating to the decision. Given that “days” means “calendar days” and not “working days”, regarding point a) the only other party involved, in the circumstance, is Nado Italia, the national anti-doping organization. Which, from the notification of the sentence (Monday 19 August), had 21 days to appeal to the CAS (but did not do so): with a deadline, therefore, of midnight on Monday 9 September. Adding the same number of days (those available to Wada), we arrive at midnight on Monday 30. Regarding point b), what Fitzgerald confirmed is valid. That is, that “Wada received the case file last week”, therefore before 9 September. For this reason, barring any new developments and trusting that Wada has actually received the entire documentation of the previous arbitration proceedings, it can be deduced that the deadline for an appeal is precisely that of 30 September.
