Tennis star Janic Sinar has been given an April date at the Sports Court to hear an appeal in a doping case

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – Top tennis player Jannik Ciner will go to the sport’s highest court in April to appeal the World Anti-Doping Agency’s decision to ban him from the sport for at least a year.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport said it has scheduled a closed-door hearing for April 16-17 at its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland.

CAS has given no timetable for a ruling, although the parties may request a fast-track decision before the start of the French Open on May 25.

WADA is challenging the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision not to suspend Ciner for accidental contamination by banned anabolic steroids in March last year. Siner’s explanation — that the amount of Clostable found in his doping sample was due to a massage by a coach who used the substance after cutting his own finger — was accepted.

Cena won the US Open in September after details of his case were revealed. It has been kept secret since April as Cena successfully appealed against being temporarily banned from the game.

The 23-year-old Italian has faced skepticism from other players, including Novak Djokovic, who have suggested he received preferential treatment from tennis authorities.

Repeated questions about the case have followed Sinner to Melbourne this week as he prepares to defend his Australian Open title.

WADA asked Sinner to be banned for one to two years.