Jannik Sinner will go into his Australian Open defence knowing a court hearing in Switzerland in three months could condemn him to a potential two-year ban from the game for doping.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), sport’s highest tribunal, announced on Friday it had set a date for a behind-closed-doors hearing on April 16-17 at its headquarters in Lausanne regarding the world number one’s two positive doping tests from last year.

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CAS will hear an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against the sport’s decision not to ban Sinner despite the Italian testing positive twice for the anabolic steroid clostebol in March.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled it was down to accidental contamination, but WADA is challenging the verdict, asking for double grand slam winner Sinner, the victor in the US Open as well as Melbourne last year, to be banned for between one and two years.

CAS gave no timetable for any verdict to be given, though the parties could request a fast-tracked decision before the French Open begins on May 25.

The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that a trainer used the substance to heal a cut on their finger, before then giving the world number one a massage.

Sinner went on to win the US Open in September after details of his case were revealed, with the 23-year-old Italian then facing scepticism from other players, including Nick Kyrgios, who have suggested he received preferential treatment.

The continued controversy surrounding the case has pursued Sinner to Melbourne, with the Italian admitting on Friday that the saga was still playing on his mind.

“Yeah, you think about this, of course. I would lie if I would tell you I forget. No, it’s not like this,” Sinner told reporters.

“It’s something what I have with me now already for quite a long time, but it is what it is.

“I’m here trying to prepare for the grand slam. Let’s see how it goes.”

Sinner will play Chile’s Nicolas Jarry in the first round of the Australian Open.

AAP