TURIN, Italy — The final verdict in the doping case involving number one Jannik Sinner is unlikely to be handed down until early next year.

But for the president of the Italian tennis federation, the case has already been won, in the court of public opinion.

“Apart from a few fools, people around the world understand what happened,” Angelo Binaghi said at the ATP Finals on Wednesday. “Whatever type of decision is made, there is no doubt that Sinner is one of the cleanest and most honest athletes in world sport.”

Sinner is playing at home for the first time since it was revealed before the US Open that he had tested positive for an anabolic steroid in two separate drug tests in March.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed an independent tribunal’s decision to clear Sinner in September and the Switzerland-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to make a final decision on the case in 2025 .

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

WADA is seeking a suspension of one to two years for Sinner.

“WADA is of the view that the finding of no fault or negligence was not correct under the applicable rules,” WADA said in September.

Sinner, however, is “very positive” that he will be cleared of any wrongdoing.

Sinner said last week, in response to a question from journalists, that he had not yet been informed by the CAS of a hearing date.

“No, we don’t know anything yet,” Sinner said.

“Look, I’ve been in this position three times now, so it’s not such a great place to be, but it’s always been very positive, so I’m very positive.”

Still, a one or two year ban could have a major impact on Sinner’s career, even though he is only 23 years old.

“We are confident that whenever the verdict comes out, he will be completely exonerated,” Binaghi said.

There is no doubt for Lavazza, the sponsor of Sinner.

Marco Lavazza, vice president of the coffee company, said the company plans to support Sinner as one of its main sponsors.

“This (doping case) shocked us. Then, like everyone else, we realized that it was an accident,” Lavazza told Italian daily Il Giornale.

“But I have no doubt who Jannik Sinner is.”

It was Sinner’s fitness trainer, Umberto Ferrara, who supplied the spray containing the banned substance to physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi.

Sinner announced before the US Open that he had fired Ferrara and Naldi, but neither was sanctioned.

Sinner’s Italian compatriot Matteo Berrettini plans to have Ferrara work with him in 2025.

“There was no premeditation on their part. But it was negligence,” Binaghi said of Naldi and Ferrara, adding that because Ferrara is a qualified pharmacist, his role in the matter was “very serious.”

Agencies via Xinhua