Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner Escapes Ban for Doping Incident After Tribunal Accepts Contamination Explanation
World No 1 Jannik Sinner will not serve a ban after being cleared of fault following two positive anti-doping tests
Italian world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has avoided a ban despite failing two anti-doping tests, as a tribunal determined the contamination came from a massage by his physiotherapist. The International Tennis Integrity Agency disclosed the failed tests on Tuesday, noting that Sinner would lose 400 ranking points and $250,000 but was deemed to have no fault or negligence. Consequently, the 23-year-old remains eligible to compete at next week’s US Open. Sinner initially tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol at Indian Wells on March 10 and again eight days later.
Sinner was initially provisionally suspended but successfully appealed both times, allowing him to continue playing while the tribunal reviewed the case. Despite this, he has been stripped of the prize money and ranking points earned at Indian Wells.
After a thorough investigation, a London tribunal accepted Jannik Sinner’s explanation for the trace amount of clostebol in his system—less than a billionth of a gram. Sinner’s defense revealed that his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, had purchased an over-the-counter steroid spray in Italy. During the Indian Wells event, Sinner’s physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, used the spray to treat a cut on his finger, which then led to contamination of Sinner. The tribunal concluded that the small amount of clostebol resulted from this accidental exposure and not from deliberate doping.
The tribunal also learned that Sinner suffers from psoriasiform dermatitis, a skin condition that causes irritation, cuts, and sores. This condition was accepted as a key factor in how clostebol entered his body through his physiotherapist’s finger.
The tribunal also noted that there was no indication that the minute concentration of clostebol in Sinner’s system would have had any performance-enhancing effect.
Clostebol, a testosterone derivative known for aiding muscle growth and recovery, has been linked to several doping failures, particularly in Italy, where it can be purchased over the counter. Sinner commented, “I will now move past this challenging and unfortunate period. I remain committed to complying with the ITIA’s anti-doping program and have a meticulous team ensuring adherence to all regulations.”
Jamie Singer, Sinner’s lawyer, stated, “Anti-doping rules must be strict to be effective, but unfortunately, innocent athletes sometimes get caught up. There’s no doubt Jannik is innocent here; the ITIA did not dispute this. However, under the rules, he is held responsible for his team members’ errors, which led to the positive test.”
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