World No. 1 Jannik Sinner avoided the consequences of testing positive after using a banned substance twice in March. This news was disclosed less than 24 hours after the athlete’s victory in the ATP 1000 Cincinnati Open.
In a statement, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared that Sinner was not at fault or negligent, even though a sample taken in Indian Wells on March 10 tested positive for the anabolic steroid Clostebol at low levels. Eight days later, a second sample was taken, and this one also tested positive at low levels.
Sinner claimed that his physiotherapist’s treatments had accidentally contaminated a substance called Clostebol and this might be the cause of his positive test results. The 2024 Australian Open champion also revealed that his personal trainer had been using an over-the-counter spray on their own skin, rather than on Sinner, in order to heal a minor cut.
In a social media post, the athlete posted a statement declaring: “His fitness trainer purchased a product, easily available over the counter in any Italian pharmacy, which he gave to Jannik’s physiotherapist to care for a cut on the physiotherapist’s finger”
“Jannik knew nothing of this, and his physiotherapist did not know that he was using a product containing Clostebol. … The physiotherapist treated Jannik without gloves and coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik’s body caused the inadvertent contamination,” the statement added.
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No suspension given
A player would normally receive an immediate provisional ban following a positive test, but according to the ITIA, they can petition an independent tribunal chair designated by Sport Resolutions to have that suspension lifted.
According to the ITIA, Sinner was able to keep playing after both cases because he successfully appealed the provisional suspension. Moreover, scientific experts found the athlete’s explanation to be reasonable, thus the organization did not object to his requests to have the temporary bans lifted.
Sinner declared: “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me… I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
Source: CNN