Tennis: Sinner 'optimistic' about doping hearing

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 13 - Italy's world number one Jannik Sinner said Monday that he was optimistic about April's hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding his alleged doping case after starting his Australian Open title defence with a 7-6, 7-6, 6-1 win over Chile's Nicolás Jarry.
    "Everyone goes through good times and difficult times in life," the 23-year-old told a news conference.
    "This has not been an easy period, but I am optimistic.
    "They always said to me that it wasn't my fault, that there was no intention, and, what's more, what I had in my body was such a low level that I don't think anything will happen.
    "We'll see. I know what happened, I know the truth".
    The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is appealing against the decision by an independent court convened by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) to acquit Sinner after he tested positive for a banned steroid, Clostebol, last year.
    Sinner's defence said he had been inadvertently contaminated with the substance by his physiotherapist, whom he later sacked.
    (ANSA).