Top-ranked Sinner 'very confident' despite WADA appealing his doping case

SHANGHAI (AP) — Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner is “very confident” he will avoid a doping ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed a decision to clear him of wrongdoing following two positive drug tests.

The Montreal-based WADA announced on Saturday it is seeking a ban of one to two years for the U.S. Open champion and has appealed to the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“I’m still surprised but I will collaborate like I did before,” Sinner said on Friday, the day before his first match at the Shanghai Masters. “I had three hearings in which the three hearings went all my way, which you know, it was good. But now let’s see.

“But I’m very confident that it comes out very, very positively. I would be very, very surprised if it would be the opposite side.”

The appeal means the case might not be resolved before Sinner begins the defense of his Australian Open title in January. Sinner can continue playing while the appeal is being heard.

In a news release on Friday, CAS said it formally registered the WADA appeal and was working to confirm a panel of three judges. The court appoints a panel chair, WADA picks a judge and the respondents — Sinner and tennis authorities — collectively can choose one.

With no panel yet confirmed to take possible requests on fast-tracking the case, CAS said “it is not possible to indicate a time frame for the issuance of the decision.”

The 23-year-old Sinner learned of WADA’s decision to appeal at the start of the Chinese Open, where he went on to lose to Carlos Alcaraz in Wednesday’s final.

“It’s not in a situation where I feel comfortable in, that’s for sure, because I thought it was over," he said. “And, now, once again. So it’s not easy.”

Sinner tested positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March but was not banned because an independent tribunal of the International Tennis Integrity Agency determined in August he was not to blame.

Sinner’s accepted explanation was the banned performance-enhancer entered his system unintentionally through a massage from his physiotherapist, who used a spray containing the steroid to treat his own cut finger.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Carlos Alcaraz, right, of Spain talks with runner-up Jannik Sinner of Italy after winning their men's singles finals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a forehand return against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain during their men's singles finals match of the China Open tennis tournament, at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures during their men's singles finals match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the China Open tennis tournament, National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Jannik Sinner of Italy gestures during their men's singles finals match against Carlos Alcaraz of Spain at the China Open tennis tournament, National Tennis Center in Beijing, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)

Matt Rempe of the New York Rangers has been offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety to discuss his boarding and elbowing of Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

The in-person hearing, which can be held via Zoom as opposed to a phone call, allows senior vice president of player safety George Parros and his department to suspend Rempe for six or more games. The time and date of the hearing is to be determined, the league said Saturday.

Rempe, a 6-foot-8 forward, became a fan favorite last season in his rookie year for fighting some of the toughest veteran big men in a throwback to vintage enforcers who largely have disappeared from hockey. But he also ran afoul of the rules, getting ejected twice and receiving a four-game suspension for one of those situations: an elbow to the head of New Jersey’s Jonas Siegenthaler.

That history factors in on the length of the suspension, along with injury and intent on the play that occurred with 13 minutes left in the third period Friday night. Heiskanen returned to skate four more shifts after going through concussion protocol, according to Stars coach Peter DeBoer, who called it a dangerous hit.

The game at Dallas was Rempe’s first back in the NHL after being recalled from the minors following the Rangers' trade of winger Kaapo Kakko to Seattle. Rempe spent the summer training to become a better fighter but also worked to become a better all-around player.

Now 22, Rempe has spent the vast majority of the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League. He played less than six minutes in the 3-1 win against the Stars, after which Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told reporters he thought Rempe “had a big impact on the game.”

“I’d like to stay away from the 5-minute major, but he’s doing his best to hit bodies and make a difference in the game,” Laviolette said. "Our guys really rallied around that at the end.”

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHL

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) slaps the puck away on an attack by New York Rangers' Matt Rempe (73) in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) controls the puck on an attack as Dallas Stars' Lian Bichsel, front right, attempts to break up the play in the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) is escorted to the penalty box by official Tommy Hughes, before being ejected for game misconduct, in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73) leaves the game after being ejected for game misconduct in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

New York Rangers center Matt Rempe (73), who was ejected for game misconduct, slams Dallas Stars' Miro Heiskanen (4) against the boards in the third period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)