Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner has tested positive twice for a banned anabolic steroid, resulting in the loss of prize money and points from a tournament at Indian Wells, California, held in March. However, he will not face a suspension, as an independent tribunal ruled that the violation was unintentional.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced the details on Tuesday. Sinner recently clinched the Cincinnati Open and is regarded as one of the favorites heading into the U.S. Open, which begins next week in New York. He achieved the number one spot in the ATP rankings in June and is considered part of the new generation of top male tennis players, alongside stars like Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Italian won his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, reached the semifinals at the French Open in June, and made it to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in July. He withdrew from the Paris Olympics due to tonsillitis.
During the Indian Wells hard-court event, Sinner tested positive for trace amounts of Clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid with legitimate uses in ophthalmology and dermatology. This is the same substance for which MLB player Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended.
Sinner had another positive test eight days later in an out-of-competition sample. His team revealed that the tennis player had “less than a billionth of a gram” of the substance in his system at the time of the test.
Initially provisionally suspended, Sinner appealed successfully, allowing him to continue competing. His team explained that the positive test occurred due to an over-the-counter Italian product containing Clostebol, which his fitness trainer had obtained for treating a minor wound on Sinner’s finger. The physiotherapist, unaware of the product’s contents, treated Sinner without gloves, leading to accidental contamination, according to the statement.
The ITIA accepted this explanation and concluded that the violation did not stem from intentional wrongdoing. An independent panel determined on August 15 that there was “No Fault or Negligence,” resulting in no suspension.
Despite the ruling, Sinner still forfeited points from the Indian Wells tournament due to the positive tests. In a statement, Sinner expressed his desire to move past this challenging period and reaffirmed his commitment to adhering to the ITIA’s anti-doping guidelines, stating he has a diligent team supporting him in compliance efforts.