Top-ranked tennis player Jannik Sinner faced a major setback in March when he tested positive twice for a banned anabolic steroid. The 23-year-old was stripped of prize money and points earned at a tournament in California, but despite the controversy, he won’t face further suspension.
Sinner tested positive for low levels of a metabolite of clostebol, a banned anabolic steroid typically used for ophthalmological and dermatological purposes. This news comes in the wake of San Diego Padres star Fernando Tatis Jr. being suspended by MLB for 80 games after testing positive for the same drug in 2022.
Eight days after the Indian Wells tournament, Sinner tested positive again in an out-of-competition sample. However, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) announced that Sinner would not be suspended because an independent tribunal ruled that the violation was not intentional. Sinner was provisionally suspended but successfully appealed and was allowed to continue competing on tour.
According to the ITIA, Sinner explained that a member of his support team used an over-the-counter spray containing clostebol to treat a small wound, leading to the positive test results. The ITIA accepted his explanation and deemed the violation not intentional.
An independent panel held a hearing and determined that no period of ineligibility would be imposed on Sinner, clearing the way for him to compete. Sinner recently won the Cincinnati Open, defeating Frances Tiafoe in the final, and is now considered one of the favorites heading into the U.S. Open.
This victory adds to Sinner’s impressive resume, which includes winning his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year. He also reached the semifinals at the French Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Despite missing the Paris Olympic Games due to tonsillitis, Sinner continues to make waves in the tennis world.
With this latest development, Sinner can now focus on his upcoming matches with the cloud of the doping controversy behind him. His resilience and determination have been evident throughout his career, and fans are eager to see what he will achieve next on the court.
