The world’s number one tennis player, Jannik Sinner, tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol twice in March. An investigation by the Tennis Integrity Agency found that Sinner is not at fault, although the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) retains the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In response to an inquiry from the German Press Agency on Wednesday (21 August 2024), WADA announced that it would first “carefully examine” the decision in the Jannik Sinner case. The agency, which is based in Montreal, Canada, stated that it reserves the right to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne if deemed necessary.
A response from the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) is still awaited. The national agency is also entitled to appeal against the decision, as explicitly indicated by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) in their statement.
Sinner tested positive twice in March
The organization responsible for monitoring anti-doping regulations in tennis made the investigation into Sinner public on Tuesday (20.08.2024).
According to the report, Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol during a competition test at Indian Wells on March 10, 2024, and small quantities of it were detected in his doping sample. Another sample, taken eight days later during a training period, returned the same result, as stated by the ITIA.
The ITIA mentioned a provisional ban was imposed in each instance, which is standard protocol according to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC). Sinner filed appeals in both cases and was successful, allowing him to continue participating in tournaments.
Sinner’s explanation: contamination by a caregiver
Sinner explained that the substance entered his body through his physiotherapist’s hands. The therapist reportedly used a spray containing clostebol, which is available over the counter in Italy, to treat a cut on his finger.
According to the ITIA’s statement, the physiotherapist allegedly used the spray between March 5 and 13. During this time, he also massaged Sinner, which is believed to have led to “unintentional transdermal contamination.”
Tennis Integrity Agency considers Sinner’s account to be credible
After consulting with experts who found Sinner’s explanation credible, the ITIA granted the player’s appeals to lift the provisional suspensions. The agency remarked that it referred the case to an independent court “to scrutinize the specific facts, review comparable anti-doping decisions, and establish any fault or negligence by the player and what outcome was fitting.”
According to the statement, a hearing was ultimately convened on August 15, “where the independent court concluded that there was no fault or negligence involved in the case, which did not result in a suspension.” There was no additional information regarding the court’s composition.
The ATP says: “Integrity is the key”
“We take every positive test extremely seriously and will always adhere to the strict procedures of the World Anti-Doping Agency. The ITIA has conducted a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances leading to the positive tests, with Mr. Sinner and his representatives fully cooperating,” stated ITIA Executive Director Karen Moorhouse. “Following this investigation, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation, which was also recognized by the court.”
Despite Sinner’s exoneration by the ITIA and expert opinions asserting he could not be accused of negligence, he will forfeit the prize money and ranking points he earned at the Indian Wells tournament, in line with anti-doping regulations.
Sinner message: “Challenging and deeply unhappy time”
Following the ITIA’s decision, Sinner’s consulting agency issued a statement. Sinner is also quoted in it, and he shared it on Instagram. “I will now move past this challenging and deeply unfortunate period,” Sinner remarked. He pledged to “continue doing everything in my power to ensure compliance with the ITIA’s anti-doping program.”
Players Association ATP considers case resolved
The ATP players’ association has also responded. “This was a challenging situation for Jannik and his team and underscores the necessity for players and their entourages to exercise extreme caution when using products or treatments. Integrity is paramount in our sport,” said the ATP, which prefers to consider the case closed.
Anti-doping expert Fritz Sörgel: “Outside the WADA rules”
However, there may be an objection from the World Anti-Doping Agency. In an interview with Sport1, doping expert Fritz Sörgel criticized Sinner’s acquittal, particularly questioning the assertion that the banned steroid entered Sinner’s system through treatment by the masseur. He stated it is “very unlikely for clostebol to penetrate the skin in such quantities that it could be detected in a doping test.”
In Sörgel’s view, the substance administered to Sinner had a doping effect due to its five percent clostebol concentration. He stated that a positive test for clostebol should automatically result in a ban, asserting that the proceedings and subsequent acquittal by the court were “outside the WADA rules.”
Criticism from other players
The court’s decision has also attracted criticism from players. “Ridiculous, whether it was an accident or not,” said Australian Nick Kyrgios on social network X: “You should be banned for two years. Your performance has improved.” Canadian Denis Shapovalov also expressed discontent, stating, “I can’t imagine what other players banned for contamination with banned substances are feeling right now.”
World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner tested positive for the banned steroid clostebol twice in March. According to an investigation by the Tennis Integrity Agency, Sinner is not at fault, but the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) reserves the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
In response to a request from the German Press Agency on Wednesday (21 August 2024), WADA announced that it would first “carefully examine” the decision in the case of Jannik Sinner. The agency reserves the right to appeal to the CAS in Lausanne if necessary, said WADA, which is based in Montreal, Canada.
A reaction from the Italian Anti-Doping Agency (NADO) is still pending. The national agency can also appeal against the decision, as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) expressly stated in the statement.
Sinner Tested Positive Twice in March
The organization responsible for monitoring anti-doping rules in tennis made the investigation against Sinner public on Tuesday (20 August 2024).
According to the report, Sinner tested positive for the anabolic steroid clostebol during a competition test in Indian Wells on March 10, 2024, and small amounts of it were found in his doping sample. Another sample, taken eight days later during a training phase, produced the same result, according to the ITIA.
According to the ITIA, a provisional ban was imposed in each case, which is standard practice in such situations under the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC). Sinner appealed in both cases and was successful, allowing him to continue participating in tournaments.
Sinner’s Explanation: Contamination by a Caregiver
Sinner explained that the substance entered his body via the hands of his physiotherapist. According to the report, the therapist used a spray containing clostebol, which is available over the counter in Italy, to treat a cut on his finger.
The ITIA stated that the physiotherapist used the spray between March 5 and 13. During this timeframe, he also massaged Sinner, which is said to have led to “unwitting transdermal contamination.”
Tennis Integrity Agency Considers Sinner’s Account Credible
After consulting with experts who found Sinner’s explanation credible, the ITIA granted his appeals to lift the provisional suspensions. The agency stated it referred the case to an independent court to review the specific facts and determine any fault by the player.
A hearing was convened on August 15, where the independent court found no fault or negligence in the case, resulting in no suspension.
ATP Remarks: “Integrity is the Key”
“We take every positive test extremely seriously and will always apply the strict procedures of WADA. The ITIA has conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the positive tests, with which Mr. Sinner and his representatives cooperated fully,” said ITIA Executive Director Karen Moorhouse. “Following this investigation, the ITIA accepted the player’s explanation, which was also acknowledged by the court.”
Although Sinner was cleared by the ITIA, and experts found no negligence, he will lose the prize money and ranking points earned at the Indian Wells tournament in accordance with anti-doping rules.
Sinner Message: “Challenging and Deeply Unhappy Time”
Following the ITIA decision, Sinner expressed his sentiments via his consulting agency and shared a post on Instagram: “I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate time behind me,” said Sinner, who plans to comply with the ITIA anti-doping program moving forward.
Players Association ATP Considers Case Resolved
The ATP players’ association also commented on the matter, stating, “This was a difficult situation for Jannik and his team, highlighting the necessity for players and those around them to exercise extreme caution when using products or treatments. Integrity is the be-all and end-all in our sport.”
Anti-Doping Expert Fritz Sörgel: “Outside the WADA Rules”
However, some skepticism remains regarding Sinner’s acquittal. Doping expert Fritz Sörgel criticized the ruling in an interview, suggesting that the explanation for contamination via treatment is unlikely, claiming, “it is very improbable that clostebol penetrates the skin in quantities detectable in a doping test.”
Sörgel holds the view that the clostebol level present during Sinner’s treatment had a doping effect. He argues that a positive test for such a substance should automatically result in a ban, as the proceedings and acquittal seem “outside the WADA rules.”
Criticism from Other Players
The court’s decision has also faced backlash from other players. Australian Nick Kyrgios commented on social media, labeling the outcome as “ridiculous” and advocated for a two-year ban regardless of accidental use. Canadian Denis Shapovalov expressed his unease, stating, “I can’t imagine what other players banned for contamination with banned substances are feeling right now.”
Benefits of Compliance with Anti-Doping Rules
Complying with anti-doping regulations not only fosters a level playing field but also ensures the integrity of the sport. Benefits include:
- Protected Athlete Health: Ensuring fairness and safety in competition.
- Upholding Sport Integrity: Maintaining public trust and support.
- Encouraging Fair Play: Fostering a culture of respect among competitors.
- Preventing Unintentional Violations: Reducing the risk of accidental substances entering the athlete’s system.
