The top-ranked tennis player, Jannik Sinner, despite testing positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March, will not be suspended as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) deems that the banned substance had unintentionally entered the player’s system.
The ITIA announced the final verdict on Tuesday. Despite missing out on the suspension, Sinner will still lose the $325,000 in prize money along with the 400 rankings points he had racked up at the tournament in Indian Wells, California where the first positive instance was reported.
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“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner said in a statement posted on social media. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping (program) and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance,” Sinner said in a statement released following the ITIA’s announcement.
During the hard-court event in March, Sinner is said to have tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of Clostebol, which is a banned substance used in ophthalmology and dermatology fields. Coincidentally, Major League Baseball’s Fernando Tatis Jr of the San Diego Padres was suspended for the same drug in 2022. Eight days later, Sinner tested positive for the second time in an out-of-competition sample.
Sinner had appealed the provisional suspension which allowed him to keep competing on tour. According to the Italian, the test returned positive because his fitness trainer had purchased an over-the-counter spray in Italy which contained Clostebol which was used to treat a cut on his physiotherapist’s finger, who then had treated Sinner without wearing gloves.
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The ITIA said it accepted Sinner’s explanation and determined the violation was not intentional. An independent panel held a hearing on Aug. 15 and “determined a finding of No Fault or Negligence applied in the case, resulting in no period of ineligibility,” according to the ITIA.
The World Anti-Doping Agency and Italy’s anti-doping body both are allowed to appeal the decision.
Because of the in-competition test result, Sinner must forfeit the ranking points and prize money he earned by reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells.
“We are encouraged that no fault or negligence has been found on Jannik Sinner’s part. We would also like to acknowledge the robustness of the investigation process and independent evaluation of the facts under the Tennis Anti-Doping Program (TADP), which has allowed him to continue competing,” the ATP Tour said in a statement. “This has been a challenging matter for Jannik and his team, and underscores the need for players and their entourages to take utmost care in the use of products or treatments. Integrity is paramount in our sport.”
(With Inputs from the Associated Press)
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