Provisional suspensions
A provisional suspension bars an athlete from competing while a case is decided. It is not a finding of guilt, and time served is normally credited against any later ban.
- For some substances a provisional suspension is mandatory. The ITIA said "a provisional suspension is mandatory" in Nick Kyrgios's cocaine case.1
- A provisional suspension can be challenged. Jannik Sinner successfully appealed both automatic provisional suspensions in 2024 and kept playing.2
- Iga Swiatek was provisionally suspended on 12 September 2024 and the suspension was lifted on 4 October 2024. That time counted towards her one month sanction.3
- Challenges usually go first to the national or federation process. The CAS Ad hoc Division at Milano Cortina 2026 found it had no jurisdiction over Rebecca Passler's application because she had not first used NADO Italia's remedies.4
- WADA's summary of the 2027 Code says a mandatory provisional suspension is imposed when the person is first notified and does not apply to substances of abuse. It says an earlier draft let all athletes appeal provisional suspensions directly to CAS, but the final text has challenges heard first in the anti-doping organisation's process.5
Sources
- International Tennis Integrity Agency, Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios provisionally suspended under anti-doping rules (19 August 2026)
- International Tennis Integrity Agency, Independent tribunal rules No Fault or Negligence in case of Italian player Jannik Sinner (20 August 2024)
- International Tennis Integrity Agency, Polish tennis player Iga Swiatek accepts one month suspension under Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (28 November 2024)
- Court of Arbitration for Sport, The CAS Ad hoc Division has no jurisdiction to consider an application by Rebecca Passler (Italy) (11 February 2026)
- WADA, Summary of major changes, 2027 World Anti-Doping Code (13 February 2026)