Jannik Sinner Avoids Suspension After Positive Steroid Test
With less than one week to go before the start of the U.S. Open, one of four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Jannik Sinner of Italy tested positive for steroids back in March of this year. Surprisingly, Sinner’s positive steroid test did not result in suspension. Read more about the ITIA’s ruling, how other players responded and what’s next for Sinner.
Jannik Sinner tests positive for steroids
On August 20, the ITIA confirmed that world No. 1 ranked tennis player Sinner will not be suspended from play after testing positive twice for an anabolic steroid in March of this year.
“I will now put this challenging and deeply unfortunate period behind me,” Sinner’s explanation began as part of his response on social media. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure I continue to comply with the ITIA’s anti-doping programme and I have a team around me that are meticulous in their own compliance.”
Sinner first tested positive for the prohibited substance clostebol during the BNP Paribas Open, a tennis tournament hosted in Indian Wells, California, on March 10. He tested positive a second time eight days later — both tests reported low levels of clostebol.
After both positive tests, Sinner received a provisional suspension. However, he successfully appealed the suspension — as is allowed by the ITIA — and he was permitted to continue competing.
According to the ITIA’s report of Sinner’s appeal, the clostebol contamination occurred via several treatment massages from a support team member who had been using a spray containing clostebol to treat a cut on their own finger.
Sinner’s case was referred to an independent tribunal by the ITIA. On August 15, the hearing determined Sinner “bears No Fault or Negligence for two Anti-Doping Rule Violations under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme.”
Consistent with the rules outlined by the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) and Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP), Sinner will forfeit $325,000 in prize money and 400 ranking points which he earned by reaching the semifinal round at the BNP Paribas Open.
Tennis players respond to Jannik Sinner’s positive steroid test and the ITIA ruling
The privacy and leniency awarded by the ITIA to Sinner’s case has not often been the case for other tennis players who test positive for prohibited substances or miss testing dates.
Several players found fault with the ITIA withholding news of Sinner’s positive tests and suspension for several months while he continued to participate on tour.
“Whether Sinner was doping or not. This is not right. Plenty of players go through the same thing and have to wait months or years for their innocence to be declared,” said British professional tennis player Liam Broady on X.
Australian professional tennis player and 2022 Wimbledon finalist Nick Kygrios echoed Broady’s sentiment saying the situation was “ridiculous,” and that if you test positive twice for a banned substance “you should be gone for 2 years.”
Jannik Sinner’s suspension and the rest of his 2024 season
Beyond the implications of the recent ITIA investigation and ruling, the 23-year-old Italian star has had a successful year on the ATP tour. His achievements include a maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, four other tour-level titles and securing the world No.1 ranking in June.
Amid his surge to the top, Sinner has faced several health concerns including a hip injury and a bout of illness that caused him to withdraw from the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
A recent champion of the Cincinnati Open, Sinner enters the U.S. Open as one of the players favored to take home the $3.6 million winner’s check. The U.S. Open main draw starts on Monday, August 26.
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