Jannik Sinner Cleared of Wrongdoing After Positive Drug Test
World number one tennis player Jannik Sinner has been cleared of any wrongdoing despite testing positive for the banned substance clostebol earlier this year, the ATP tennis federation announced after an investigation by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The ITIA determined that Sinner’s use of the substance was unintentional, thus allowing him to avoid any punishment.
Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, is known to have led to serious sanctions in the past, including the 13-month suspension of Norwegian cross-country skier Therese Johaug in 2017 for a similar infraction. Sinner's positive tests occurred on two occasions during the prestigious Indian Wells tournament in March.
The initial sample was collected on March 10, and a subsequent sample was taken outside of competition eight days later. As soon as Sinner received news of the positive tests, he appealed the findings, which permitted him to continue competing while the investigation was ongoing. Remarkably, Sinner went on to win the Masters 1000 tournament at the Miami Open later that same month.
In his statement on social media platform X, Sinner explained that the presence of clostebol in his system was due to an incident involving his physiotherapist. Allegedly, the physiotherapist had purchased a product containing clostebol at an Italian pharmacy to treat Sinner’s finger injury. The application of this product reportedly resulted in unintended transdermal contamination during the treatment period from March 5 to March 13.
The ITIA corroborated Sinner's account, stating that a member of the treatment team applied the spray on a regular basis, which led to the unintentional transfer of the substance through skin contact. Throughout the investigation, Sinner has been fully cooperative, demonstrating his commitment to uphold the integrity of the sport.
Despite the acquittal, the ITIA has declared that all prize money and world ranking points earned by Sinner during the American tournament will be annulled due to the positive tests. The athlete had reached the semifinals at Indian Wells, marking a significant achievement in his career prior to the incident.
Sinner’s case has sparked discussions about the protocols around athlete treatment and the importance of ensuring that all substances applied in medical treatments are compliant with anti-doping regulations. As the landscape of professional sports continues to evolve, maintaining transparency and adherence to these regulations is paramount, both for the athletes and the integrity of the sport.
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