LONDON: Following a recent incident, Italian tennis sensation and the current men's world No. 1, Jannik Sinner, has managed to avoid suspension after being found positive for the prohibited substance clostebol on two separate occasions in March 2024. Sinner has attributed these positive results to transdermal contamination.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) issued a statement on Tuesday, confirming that Sinner is not at fault or negligent, after considering the player's explanation regarding the inadvertent introduction of the substance into his system. According to Sinner, the substance entered his body through incidental contact with a physiotherapist who utilized an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a minor injury.
Sinner's first positive test occurred during an ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, United States, on March 10, followed by a second positive result, also from an out-of-competition sample, eight days later, both of which tested positive for the metabolite clostebol.
He elaborated that the substance had inadvertently entered his system due to contamination from a member of his support team, who had applied an over-the-counter spray (available in Italy) containing clostebol to their own skin to address a small cut. This support team member applied the spray between March 5 and 13, during which period they also provided daily massages and sports therapy to Sinner, leading to inadvertent transdermal contamination.
Sinner was initially provisionally suspended but successfully appealed the decision, resulting in the suspensions being lifted.
The ITIA has referred the case to an independent tribunal to thoroughly examine the specific circumstances, review any relevant anti-doping decisions, and determine the appropriate level of fault the player may have incurred.
Following this investigation, the ITIA accepted Sinner's explanation regarding the source of the clostebol and the lack of intent to introduce the substance into his system. This explanation was also accepted by the tribunal.
Although Sinner will not face a ban, his results, prize money, and ranking points from the ATP Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells, where he tested positive in competition for clostebol, will be disqualified.
This decision has ignited a significant debate within the tennis community. While the ATP has expressed satisfaction with Sinner's clear of any intentional misconduct, some athletes, including Nick Kyrgios and Denis Shapovalov, have criticized the tribunal's lenient approach, arguing that a second positive test for a banned substance warrants a more severe penalty.
This controversy emerges at a critical juncture for Sinner, who has withdrawn from the Paris Olympics in July, recently clinched the Cincinnati Open, and is now gearing up for the upcoming U.S. Open.
