Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has avoided suspension despite testing positive twice for an anabolic steroid earlier this year.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced on Tuesday that Sinner, who tested positive for the banned substance Clostebol in March, would not face a ban due to the agency’s determination that the substance entered his system unintentionally through a massage administered by his physiotherapist.
The ITIA disclosed that Sinner will forfeit the $325,000 in prize money and 400 ranking points he earned at the Indian Wells tournament in California, where his first positive drug test occurred. Despite this, Sinner will remain eligible to compete on the ATP Tour.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner stated 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 is meticulous in their own compliance.”
Sinner, who recently won the Cincinnati Open, is considered one of the favorites for the upcoming U.S. Open in New York. The Italian player, who turned 23 on Friday, has been a rising star in men’s tennis, having secured his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January. He made his debut at No. 1 in the ATP rankings in June, following strong performances at the French Open and Wimbledon.
The positive drug tests occurred during the Indian Wells tournament and in an out-of-competition sample taken eight days later. Sinner was provisionally suspended following the results but was allowed to continue competing after a successful appeal.
The ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation that the Clostebol entered his system through an over-the-counter spray purchased by his fitness trainer in Italy. The spray was used by Sinner’s physiotherapist to treat a cut on his finger, who then unintentionally transferred the substance to Sinner during a massage without wearing gloves.
An independent panel held a hearing on August 15 and concluded that “No Fault or Negligence” applied in Sinner’s case, resulting in no period of ineligibility, according to the ITIA.
ITIA CEO Karen Moorhouse acknowledged Sinner’s full cooperation with the investigation. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and Italy’s anti-doping body retain the right to appeal the decision.
Despite the ruling, Sinner must relinquish the ranking points and prize money earned from reaching the semifinals at Indian Wells due to the in-competition test result.
The ATP Tour issued a statement following the ITIA’s decision: “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. 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.”
