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 in an interview with The Associated Press 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 announced before his US Open title 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.

The sinner is “very positive” and will be cleared

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

“No, we don’t know anything yet,” Sinner said. “Look, I’ve been in this position three times before, so it’s not that great of a place. 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.

No doubt for Lavazza, sponsor of Sinner coffee

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

“This (doping affair) shocked us. Then, like everyone else, we realized it was an accident,” Lavazza told Italian daily Il Giornale. “But I have no doubt who Jannik Sinner is.”

The sinner keeps winning

Meanwhile, Sinner – who won his first two Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and US Open this year – continues to win.

He won his first two ATP Finals matches in straight sets against Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz and will next face Daniil Medvedev on Thursday.

Sinner’s matches regularly attract larger television audiences than main football matches in Italy, and his rapid rise to the top has seen local fans buy almost all the tickets for the final.

“There are no foreign spectators; they are all Italian,” Binaghi said. “We have 30,000 fewer foreigners than last year. Divide that by 15 sessions and that’s 2,000 less for each session.

Moving the ATP Finals to Milan is a possibility

The ability to sell more tickets to a wider audience is one reason why the ATP Finals could be moved to Milan after the five-year contract with Torino expires next year.

A new arena being built in Milan for the 2026 Olympics would have 4,000 more seats than Turin’s Inalpi arena.

“We proposed to keep the final tournament in Italy for another five years,” Binaghi said, adding that keeping the tournament in Turin also remained an option.

Binaghi said he expects the ATP to announce a decision on the future of the tournament by Sunday.