Jannik Sinner tennis doping case: Will the men’s world number one be banned? Could he lose Grand Slam titles?

Italy’s Jannik Sinner enjoyed the most successful – and eventful – season of his career in 2024, dominating the men’s game while the case investigating his two failed doping tests rumbles on.

The reigning Australian Open and US Open champion, who won eight titles in addition to his Slam double last year, tested positive for clostebol in March.

An independent panel, which was presented the case by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), accepted there was “no fault or negligence” attached to 23-year-old Sinner.

It ruled the world number one had provided a “credible” explanation and he was able to continue playing.

But the decision that Sinner bore no fault was challenged by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada), which launched an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

The start date of the two-day hearing has been set for 16 April, Cas announced on Friday.

“No parties requested a public hearing and it will be conducted behind closed doors,” Cas said in a statement.

Speaking before the start of his Australian Open title defence in Melbourne on Friday, but prior to the Cas announcement, Sinner said: “In my mind I know exactly what happened. That’s how I block it [out].

“I haven’t done anything wrong. That’s why I’m still here. That’s why I’m still playing.”

BBC Sport analyses the key questions at the heart of a complex subject.