World No. 1 in men’s tennis, Jannik Sinner, has been officially cleared of any wrongdoing after failing two drug tests in March.
The announcement came from the International Tennis Integrity Authority (ITIA) on Tuesday, confirming that an independent tribunal had accepted Jannik Sinner’s explanation regarding the presence of the banned substance clostebol in his system.
The tribunal determined that clostebol entered Jannik Sinner’s body unintentionally, through contact with a member of his support team. The ITIA explained that the team member had used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a small wound. The substance then transferred to Sinner during massages and sports therapy.
Despite the positive tests, Jannik Sinner successfully appealed his provisional suspension twice, allowing him to continue competing. However, under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), his results, prize money, and ranking points from the ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells were disqualified. Sinner tested positive for clostebol during this competition.
The ruling is open to appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Italian Anti-Doping Agency. WADA stated they would review the decision carefully and consider appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) if necessary.
Jannik Sinner, who recently won the Cincinnati Open, expressed relief after being cleared. He emphasized his full cooperation with the ITIA throughout the investigation. The 23-year-old Italian clarified that the amount of clostebol found in his system was less than a billionth of a gram.
The ATP welcomed the tribunal’s decision, noting the importance of integrity in the sport. “This situation has been particularly challenging for Jannik and his team.” It highlights the need for players and their entourages to be extremely cautious with any products or treatments,” they stated.
Not everyone agreed with the ruling. Australian player Nick Kyrgios criticized the decision on social media, arguing that testing positive twice for a banned substance should result in a two-year ban, regardless of intent.
Jannik Sinner, who is set to play in the U.S. Open later this month, will continue his career with this chapter behind him. The main draw of the U.S. Open begins on August 26.
