World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing after testing positive twice for a banned substance in March.
The Italian tested positive for low levels of a clostebol metabolite, a steroid used to build muscle mass, during the Indian Wells tournament. A follow-up sample taken eight days later also tested positive for the same substance.
Sinner was automatically placed under provisional suspension, but successfully challenged it, allowing him to continue playing. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) determined that the substance had inadvertently contaminated Sinner through his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi.
Naldi had been using an over-the-counter spray, commonly available in Italy, on a cut on his own hand before treating Sinner. The ITIA accepted that Sinner was unaware of the presence of the substance and that there was no intention to cheat.
Last week, an independent tribunal exonerated Sinner from any fault or negligence, though he will forfeit the ranking points and prize money earned from his semi-final run at Indian Wells.
Sinner expressed relief in a statement, saying, “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me. I will continue to do everything I can to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme. My team is meticulous in their adherence to these regulations.”
Clostebol, often found in products treating swelling and irritation, is listed as a prohibited substance by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion, will now enter the US Open as the top seed.
What Happened?
Sinner was cleared of any fault or negligence for the positive tests. The ITIA described the levels found in his samples as “low,” with his lawyers noting that the amount detected was “less than a billionth of a gram.”
According to the full decision published by the ITIA, Naldi had accidentally cut his finger on a scalpel in his treatment bag on March 3. Following a recommendation, he applied a medical spray, which he purchased in Italy, to the wound from March 5-13, the period during which Indian Wells took place.
During this time, Naldi administered full-body massages and bandaged Sinner’s feet without wearing gloves. Sinner, who suffers from a skin condition that leads to small cuts and lesions, was treated by Naldi on March 10. Naldi admitted he might not have washed his hands between applying the spray and treating Sinner.
The ITIA accepted that Sinner had no knowledge of the spray or its contents and did not know that Naldi had used it on his hand. Three independent experts agreed that Sinner’s explanation was plausible and that the substance would not have provided any doping or performance-enhancing effects.
The ITIA then referred the case to an independent tribunal, which ruled that Sinner bore no fault or negligence. As a result, the 23-year-old player avoided suspension but will lose his 400 ranking points and $325,000 in prize money from Indian Wells. The decision is subject to potential appeal by WADA.
Why Was Sinner Allowed to Continue Playing?
Under the World Anti-Doping Code, a provisional suspension is typically enforced when a player tests positive for a non-specified substance. However, players have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal to have the suspension lifted.
Sinner successfully appealed twice, providing a credible explanation for how the substance entered his system. The ITIA consulted scientific experts, who found Sinner’s explanation plausible, leading the agency not to oppose his appeal against the provisional suspension.
ITIA’s Response
Karen Moorhouse, Chief Executive of the ITIA, emphasized the importance of rigorous processes in anti-doping cases, stating, “The ITIA carried out a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the positive tests, with which Mr. Sinner and his representatives fully co-operated.”
Following the investigation, the ITIA accepted Sinner’s explanation, which was also upheld by the tribunal. “We thank the independent tribunal for the speed and clarity of its decision in relation to the player’s degree of fault,” Moorhouse added.
Sinner’s lawyer, Jamie Singer, acknowledged the strict nature of anti-doping rules and their impact on innocent athletes. “There is no question that Jannik is innocent in this case,” Singer said, highlighting that Sinner is ultimately responsible for what enters his system under strict liability rules.
The ATP Tour also issued a statement emphasizing the importance of integrity in tennis, noting, “This has been a challenging matter for Jannik and his team, and it underscores the need for players and their entourages to exercise utmost care with products or treatments.”
Source: BBC Sports.
