World No. 1 in men’s singles tennis, Sinner, is caught up in a doping scandal 2024-08-22 10:07:15.0 Source: Xinhuanet Author: Gao Meng, Ma Xiangfei
Italian tennis player Sinner, currently ranked number one in the world in men’s singles, has been embroiled in a doping scandal. This year he tested positive for the banned substance chlorotestosterone twice in doping tests.
On the 20th, Sinner won the Cincinnati Masters of the Association of Professional Tennis Players (ATP). After the game, he responded on his personal social media that the banned substances entered his body because the physiotherapist used an over-the-counter spray containing chlortestosterone, which can be purchased in Italy, to treat the wounds on his skin from March 5 to 13 this year. At the same time, the physiotherapist also gave Sinner daily massage and exercise therapy, causing Sinner to be transdermally contaminated without knowing it. On the same day, the International Tennis Integrity Committee publicly confirmed that Sinner “had no fault or negligence in this incident” and announced the ruling report.
The International Tennis Integrity Committee referred the case to an independent tribunal, which ruled on August 15 that Sinner “did not bear any fault or negligence” in the case.
The ruling report of the International Tennis Integrity Committee stated that in March this year, Sinner was tested positive for the banned substance chlorotestosterone twice: on March 10, 2024, the doping test results of the Indian Wells Masters in the United States showed that a small amount of chlorotestosterone metabolites was found in one of Sinner’s in-game samples. In the out-of-game test conducted 8 days later, the metabolite was also detected in a sample, and the concentration was still very low.
In the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) banned list, chlortestosterone is listed as an “anabolic agent that is prohibited at all times”. According to the World Anti-Doping Code, when an athlete’s doping test result involves a positive non-specific substance such as chlortestosterone, he will automatically be temporarily banned, but the athlete has the right to apply for the lifting of the temporary ban. After each positive test, Sinner was imposed a temporary ban. But after two bans, Sinner successfully appealed and was able to continue to compete.
Although Sinner avoided a ban, all his results, prize money and ranking points at the Indian Wells Masters were cancelled due to the detection of banned substances in his body.
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the International Tennis Integrity Commission, said: “We take any positive test very seriously and always strictly follow the procedures set by the World Anti-Doping Agency. The International Tennis Integrity Commission conducted a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the positive test and Sinner fully cooperated with the investigation. At the end of the investigation, the International Tennis Integrity Commission accepted the athlete’s explanation and concluded that it was not intentional. The independent tribunal also accepted this explanation.”
The incident is causing widespread controversy in the tennis world.
